FOUR Bendigo men and a group of their cricketing mates from England have been left 'stranded at the crease' in Peru.
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Rob Fisher, Mark and Luke Farrington, and Stephen Stingel remain holed-up in Lima after the country's president ordered a lockdown of the country earlier this week in response to the coronavirus.
The group comprising members from the Harcourt Cricket Club in central Victoria and Stanton Harcourt Cricket Club in Oxford, England, was taking part in a four-country tour of South America, incorporating games against teams from Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Colombia with some sightseeing, when the curfew was enforced.
What started out as an adventure of a lifetime has rapidly developed into a desperate struggle to get back home.
Fisher hinted that like many of the more than 100 Australians currently stranded in Peru, the group was caught on the hop by the timing of the travel ban.
"As we were preparing to fly to Cusco to begin our sightseeing journey through the Inca trails and Machu Picchu, we were notified that both domestic and international travel had been cancelled in Peru," he said.
"As the day progressed we found out that the President of Peru had now closed their International Borders and advised that from 10pm on Monday a curfew will be enforced.
"This prevented anyone from venturing outside unless we were purchasing food, water or medicine.
"We were due to fly to Colombia next Monday for more sightseeing and cricket. But of course all we want to do now is come home."
The group departed Australia on February 27, with the opening three matches played in Beunos Aries against the Belgrano Athletic Club, which has been playing cricket since 1912, an ex-pat Indian XI, and Hurlingham, which has competed since the 1890s.
These were followed by a match against Carioca Cricket Club in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian city's only cricket team.
While Peru's border will remain closed for at least 10 more days, Fisher said there had been local reports of the shutdown being extended to 30 days.
He hit out at the lack of government guidance and assistance for stranded Australians in countries such as Peru.
"The real disappointing aspect of this situation is the lack of communication from our own government," Fisher said.
"They have closed the Australian Embassy here in Lima and will not answer the phone.
"The messages we have been receiving are obsolete, advising us to return to Australia ASAP.
"This would have been great advice before Peru had shut their borders.
"Presently we are shored up in a hotel with restricted access to its facilities, mostly confined to our rooms with limited access to the bar and bistro.
"There are military and police patrolling the streets to ensure curfews are enforced."
Fisher said the group was desperately trying to keep communication lines open with the authorities and had joined a Facebook chat group of Aussies who are in the same situation.
"There are over 100 people in the group presently and it has been growing all the time," he said.
"It has been this group where most of the useful information has come from and although it is frustrating to be in this position, it is comforting to know we are not alone here."
The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Peru was recorded on March 6, with the number of confirmed cases standing at 234.
Fisher said none of the Australians or Brits were currently showing any signs of infection.
"It is pretty hard to judge as people react differently to the virus. People can carry the virus in their system for days before showing any symptomatic signs," he said.
"We don't want to be jumping at shadows, but we have to be vigilant to keep our distance where possible.
"We are just quietly going about our business and minimising contact with others and to be fair, running out of money due to the extra expense of this added accommodation for an indefinite period.
"Most of the Aussies in the chat group are saying that their travel insurance won't assist due to this being a pandemic."
The Bendigo quartet is resigned to having to self-isolate for at least 14 days once back on Australian soil.
Despite the uncertainty, Fisher said the trip had not been without its highlights, especially for the Farrington brothers.
A pair of matches in Lima marked the first time all four brothers, Bendigo-based Luke and Mark, Paul, from Millmerran, Queensland, and Andy, who now lives in Bogota, Colombia, had played in the same cricket side.
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