Australia Test captain Tim Paine on Friday asserted that the upcoming Ashes series against England will go ahead even if some visiting players refuse to tour because of Covid-19 restrictions.

There has been a lot of speculation over the Ashes with many England players, including captain Joe Root, raising concerns over travelling with family amid strict Covid restrictions in Australia. But Paine thought otherwise.

“The Ashes are going ahead. The first Test is on 8 December — whether Joe is here or not,” the Australia captain told SEN Hobart. “They all want to come, there’s no doubt about it. They’re trying to get themselves the best possible conditions they can, but at the end of the day, we all are.”

The five-match Test series is scheduled to continue till January 18, 2022. But the tour’s fate remains unclear with several senior English players considering the possibility of boycotting it, depending on what type of restrictions they have to live in.

Former England player Kevin Pietersen had also recently taken to Twitter, criticising the quarantine rules Down Under, saying players have had enough of staying in bio-secure bubbles.

Paine asked Pietersen to let the players decided whether they wish to play in the Ashes or not.

“He (Pietersen) is an expert on everything, there is no doubt about that,” Paine, who is recuperating from a neck surgery and hopes to be fit for the Ashes, said. “Kev mate, leave it to the players, let them speak. We have not heard one England player come out and say they will not be coming.”