Michael Vaughan warns Ashes could turn into a FARCE with England sending a weakened team if Australia doesn't allow players' families to tour with them amid strict Covid-19 rules - which could see Joe Root and Co spend 65 DAYS away from loved ones

• England are set for Ashes tour of Australia at the end of the year
• Australian government's strict Covid rules mean players' families stay at home
• It raises prospect of England's cricketers spending four months without them
• Players could be without loved ones for at least 65 days during the Ashes tour 
• Ex-England captain Vaughan worries this could lead to player withdrawals 

Michael Vaughan has said the upcoming Ashes series could be a 'farce' involving a less competitive England team unless the side is given travel exemptions so their families can enter and tour Australia.

The Australian government has limited the number of overseas arrivals during the pandemic, with thousands of its citizens unable to return and Covid-19 cases surging in the country's largest cities amid a sluggish vaccination programme.

A large number of England's multi-format players, including the likes of Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer, could all feature in the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates this October, with the tournament finishing days before the England squad make their way Down Under for the Ashes.

Should they reach the T20 final in mid-November, England's cricketers would then have to immediately depart the UAE around November 15 to head straight to Australia.

Joe Root and Co will play five Tests across the country over the following nine weeks, before finally returning home on January 19 – 65 days after arriving in Australia for the Ashes.  

In an interview, former England captain Vaughan said it was not reasonable to expect players to travel without their families or partners for such a long period of time. 

'If England arrive in Australia with half a team and I hope it doesn't come to this ... it would almost be that The Ashes become a bit of a farce,' he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The Yorkshireman said England's side could be below par if players opt not to tour Down Under, but he endorsed such a possible move by players.

'If Australia continue to lock the borders and make it very, very difficult there will come a stage where a sports team decides not to come,' Vaughan said.

'I'm not saying that will be the England cricket team but ... as we speak, I would be amazed if England have a full-strength team for the Ashes.

'I would completely back the players if they pull out.'

Last month Vaughan tweeted that if England's players were not allowed to have family on the tour 'they should call the Ashes off', adding: '4 months away from your family is totally unacceptable.'

The five-Test series is due to begin at the Gabba in Brisbane on December 8.