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Australian cricketer Travis Head tested positive for Covid-19 before the second Test against West Indies. Head is getting better now and may play in the second Test, according to Australia's captain, Pat Cummins, who shared this on January 23.
In a pre-match press conference in Brisbane, Cummins disclosed that Head is nearly healed from the infection and is being considered for participation in the upcoming Test.
"I think he's almost out of it," Cummins told reporters at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane on January 23.
"He'll be fine … he'll train tonight," Cummins further added.
Head won't be the first player to be in the starting XI despite a Covid-19 infection. Protocols have been established to allow cricketers to participate in matches despite being infected. In the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Tahlia McGrath, while isolated from the rest of the Australian team, played T20I matches for Australia during her infection.
"Obviously, even if he is still positive he can still play, there might just be a few protocols," Cummins said.
The 30-year-old had previously faced a Covid-19 infection during a home Test series. He was excluded from the Melbourne Test in the 2021-22 Ashes series, leading to Usman Khawaja's return to the team.
If Head still test positive for Covid-19 at the commencement of the Test match, he will need to adhere to the International Cricket Council's Covid safety protocols. These guidelines involve maintaining distance from the rest of the team while waiting to bat and keeping a safe distance from teammates during on-field celebrations.
Australia Test Squad
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc
West Test Squad
Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Shamar Joseph
(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)
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