Travis Head, who scored a century to give Australia a big win in the Brisbane Test against England, will miss the Sydney Test as he has tested positive for the coronavirus.
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The coronavirus pandemic continues to cause chaos in the Ashes series. Australia batsman Travis Head has tested positive for COVID-19. This comes after seven members of the England support staff and Match Referee David Boon tested positive. In the latest round of PCR and Rapid Antigen Testing, Head was found to be positive but asymptomatic. According to Victoria state Government health protocol, Head will have to be in isolation for seven days. This means that he will miss the Sydney Test.
Australia and England are slated to fly out to Sydney in separate chartered flights. The entire Australia cricket team underwent PCR and Rapid Antigen Tests and on Friday morning and the results will be eagerly awaited. With Head’s situation now clear, Australia has enhanced their squad for the Sydney Test.
The Australian cricket team has included Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, and Nic Maddinson in their squad as a ‘precautionary and additional cover’ for the SCG Test beginning on January 5. Australia is leading 3-0 in the Ashes and gunning for a whitewash.
A Cricket Australia spokesperson stated that Head had tested positive. “As part of our testing procedures, we are PCR testing players, their families, and our support staff daily. Unfortunately, Travis returned a positive Covid-19 result. Thankfully, he is asymptomatic at this stage. We anticipate that he will be available to play in the fifth Vodafone men’s Ashes Test in Hobart,” said the CA spokesperson.
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Head has scored 248 runs at an average of 62 in the current series. The left-hander could be back for the Hobart Test starting on January 14. His place in the team might be taken by Usman Khawaja. Before the Ashes, Head and Khawaja were battling it out for the spot in the Australian cricket team. Head got the nod on the back of some superb performances in the Shield tournament.
In the last 24 hours, Australia has reported over 20,000 cases of the coronavirus. Sydney is the current hot spot for the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Not just the Ashes, the Big Bash League has also been impacted. The New Year’s Eve game between Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers is in doubt. Four Sydney Thunder players tested positive for the coronavirus. They will be required to stay in isolation for some time. This comes on the back of the Melbourne Stars vs Perth Scorchers side being postponed after a support staff tested positive.
Australia and England will be hoping that the coronavirus does not spread on a bigger scale. They will be hoping that the Sydney and Hobart Tests go on without any hassles.
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