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England will name their Ashes squad on Sunday, with captain Joe Root heading up a group that is as close to full strength as possible in the ongoing absence of Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer.
Fears that the marquee series would be downgraded to something of a sideshow, with a host of first-choice players pondering withdrawal from the trip to Australia due to COVID-related restrictions, have abated and there are unlikely to be any notable opt-outs.
That means the likelihood of Root being joined by vice-captain Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan and Mark Wood, who were among those whose participation was at one stage far from certain but who will travelling after a month away at the T20 World Cup in the UAE.
With star allrounder Stokes still focusing on his mental health and recovery from a second finger operation and strike bowler Archer sidelined with a long-standing elbow issue, head coach Chris Silverwood is thought to have settled on a familiar-looking squad of around 18.
Those hoping for eye-catching selections may be disappointed, with the likes of big-hitting allrounder Liam Livingstone and his legspinning Lancashire colleague Matt Parkinson set to be named instead in the Lions squad that will provide back-up early in the tour.
Instead, England will continue to rely on the majority of players that have carried them through a difficult year of Test cricket, including defeats in six of their last nine matches.
With Dom Sibley axed from the new round of central contracts, Silverwood is likely to stick with Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed and Zak Crawley as top-order options with Malan, Root and Ollie Pope alongside wicketkeeper-batters Bairstow and Buttler in the middle order.
Fellow gloveman Ben Foakes is expected to miss out following his injury-hit season and James Bracey has drifted down the pecking order following a tough series against New Zealand.
Moeen Ali's retirement leaves the way clear for Jack Leach and Dom Bess to take up two spinning places, though Parkinson and youngster Jack Carson may end up with the Lions too.
Veteran seamers James Anderson and Stuart Broad should head up the seam ranks for what may well be their Ashes swansong, with support from the likes of Woakes, Wood and Ollie Robinson.
All-rounder Sam Curran has been forced to pull out of the Indian Premier League and the T20 World Cup with a lower back injury and will need to be assessed.
Craig Overton and Saqib Mahmood were also in the Test squad at the end of the summer but could be fighting for one spot, with the latter hoping to become the only uncapped player to make the cut.
© PAA 2021
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NSW has tipped over 90 per cent first-dose COVID-19 vaccination coverage as the state's fully vaccinated residents prepare for the final day of a 15-week lockdown.
The state on Friday hit 90.14 per cent first-dose coverage among those aged 16 and over, with 72.75 per cent fully jabbed.
Having surpassed the 70 per cent double-dose vaccination milestone earlier this week, stay-at-home orders will cease for NSW's fully vaccinated population from Monday.
Greater Sydney was locked down on June 25 due to the current Delta strain outbreak - more than 15 weeks ago.
Premier Dominic Perrottet on Saturday flagged the conclusion of lockdown would likely cause an increase in COVID-19 transmission and urged people to proceed safely.
However, he was confident NSW's high rates of vaccination would ensure hospitalisation rates remain manageable, despite complaints the accelerated opening could strain resources.
NSW reported 580 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and 11 deaths in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday.
"We believe that our conservative approach here ensures we keep people safe but importantly gets people back into work as quickly as possible," Mr Perrottet told reporters.
"This journey is not over ... there is a long way to go."
Gyms, cafes, restaurants, pools, shops, hairdressers and beauticians will reopen from Monday and people will be allowed to venture more than five kilometres from their home.
Indoor and outdoor gatherings will also be permitted, with caps increased earlier this week to 10 and 30 people respectively.
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant waved away questions she was not involved in the changes to the state's roadmap, saying she briefed the new premier for close to two hours.
Dr Chant also said every increment above 90 per cent vaccination coverage was "just going to be a bit harder", and challenged NSW to match the ACT record of 96 per cent.
She also confirmed authorities were investigating the source of a new Delta virus variant uncovered in NSW on Friday.
It's been linked back to a person who returned from overseas, indicating a hotel quarantine leak may be at fault.
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NSW is set to surpass another COVID-19 vaccination milestone, all but guaranteeing the state becomes one of the most vaccinated jurisdictions on the planet.
The state on Wednesday achieved 70 per cent double-dose vaccination coverage of those aged over 16, clearing the way for restrictions to ease as planned on Monday.
But soon - as early as Saturday - 90 per cent of the state's eligible residents will have been jabbed with at least one dose.
As of Thursday, 89.8 per cent of people 16 and over had received their first vaccine dose.
That all but assures NSW will reach the same level of double-dose vaccination within weeks.
Premier Dominic Perrottet on Friday said NSW was proudly leading the country when it comes to vaccination, and a return to COVID-normal.
"We can really be, in our state, in a situation where we have the highest vaccination rate in the world," he told 2GB.
From Monday, a swathe of restrictions will lift for fully vaccinated people across the state.
Ten adult visitors will be allowed in homes, 30 people will be permitted to gather outdoors, and 100 guests can congregate at weddings and funerals.
Shops and hospitality venues can reopen and the five-kilometre from home travel limit will be scrapped.
But with NSW the first Australian state to reach 70 per cent vaccination, NSW is also going to be the first to meet some challenges, the premier said.
The United Workers' Union, which represents many frontline and public-facing workers, is concerned members checking vaccination status could be put in unsafe situations.
Adding to their worry is that the integrated Service NSW vaccine certificate or passport app is not yet ready.
Meanwhile, the Australian Medical Association of NSW said changes to the state's plan to emerge from lockdown could overwhelm the hospital system and burn out healthcare workers.
The new premier said he knew easing restrictions was "going to be difficult", but asked for patience as "we learn as we go ahead".
"This is not going to be complete smooth sailing because no one else has gone down this path," he told 2GB.
"We can't let perfection be the enemy of the good here.
"Everyone just needs to treat everyone with kindness and respect."
There were 646 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and 11 more deaths, reported in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday.
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Image: Arne Müseler / www.arne-mueseler.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons
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