ECB chief executive Tom Harrison: "It's been a long night. It's just really sad.

"You can't be flippant about issues of mental health, and this is what this is about. India have been wonderful tourists, but they have been here for a long time.

"Playing at this level, week after week, is difficult. Even if we feel we are emerging from the pandemic, life is different for the players. When Covid creeps into an environment, it can accelerate very quickly."

Tom Harrison is on TMS now...

Image source, Getty Images

A reminder of the situation for anyone just joining us expecting to read about the first ball being bowled:

• The fifth Test between England and India has been cancelled following positive Covid-19 tests earlier in the week.
• Due to fears of the virus spreading further in the camp, India were not able to field a team.
• We do not know what will happen with the result match or the series, although India have offered to reschedule it (this would surely be next year at the earliest).
• Ticket holders will receive a full refund.

ECB chief Tom Harrison will be speaking on TMS shortly.

You can listen by clicking the audio icon above.

Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

If you go back to the start of the summer, the India team didn’t want to play this Test due to how close it was to the IPL. The difference between The Oval and this match is that the IPL starts next week. These players are absolutely petrified of getting Covid, having to isolate and missing out on the IPL.

Simon Bissex: Sad day for Test cricket. Good day for the IPL.

Deep Dasgupta
Former India wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

I am surprised because last night I heard that there would be a Test match. It’s about the supporters, the fans. They pay so much money to come to the ground.

I'm well up for this. Shall I start a petition?

Aggers bowling to Nasser. Mikey Holding running in at Michael Vaughan.

The dream.

Felix Rogers: How about a TMS XI vs Sky XI whilst the wicket has been prepped and the ground is there?!

One or two fans have made it to the ground. It is the ticket holders whom you feel sorry for most.

Lancashire say full refunds will be given but that won't cover travel and hotel expenses.

Are you one of those? How are you feeling? How are you going to fill the time? Let me know.

Image source, Getty Images

Vic Marks
Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

We are in strange, strange times.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

It's too important for the ECB and BCCI to fall out.

Image source, Getty Images

People who were with us for the last Test will know this has been rumbling in the background for a week or so.

India head coach Ravi Shastri tested positive during India's fourth Test win, forcing bowling coach Bharat Arun, fielding coach Ramakrishnan Sridhar and physiotherapist Nitin Pate to isolate.

Another member of the backroom staff tested positive on Thursday.

India cancelled Thursday's training session, but a subsequent round of testing showed no positive results among players and it was declared that the Test would go ahead as planned.

Somewhere things changed this morning and the Test was cancelled.

In the last few moments the BCCI has released a statement saying it has offered to reschedule this cancelled match.

As we have said it is unclear what will happen to it at present.

Things are complicated by the IPL being due to start a week on Sunday leaving little room for this Test to happen in the next few days.

"Both the boards will work towards finding a window to reschedule this Test match," the BCCI said.

Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

India have flexed their muscles. The BCCI would be scared to death that players couldn't get to the IPL.

It will be a long legal process to decide where the costs of this will lie.

I'm pretty sure India could have found 11 players to have played today.

To add to the confusion it was initially announced that India, who led the series 2-1, had forfeited the final Test and the series was drawn 2-2.

The statement has since been amended to say: "India are regrettably unable to field a team."

The final result is unclear.

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

It's so sad. I always start with the fans. Sport is nothing without them. I bumped into one gentleman that travelled down from Edinburgh. I feel desperately sorry for them.

I honestly feel India have let English cricket down. It was 12 o'clock last night. All the players have tested negative. England did a similar thing to South Africa, so they set a precedent.

The fifth Test between England and India at Old Trafford has been cancelled after a number of the tourists' backroom staff tested positive for Covid-19.

India were unable to field a team because they fear further cases spreading through their squad.

The match was called off shortly before 9:00 BST, around two hours before it was due to begin.

Good morning.

We were expecting to bring you the first day of the fifth and final instalment of this epic Test series between England and India this morning.

That will not be happening.

The entire Test has been cancelled. We're here to run you through what we know and get reaction from the Test Match Special team.

Image source, Getty Images