Australia batsman Travis Head has been tested positive for Covid-19 and is set to miss the fourth Ashes Test scheduled to take place on January 5, in Sydney.
Cricket Australia confirmed that the 28-year-old is although asymptomatic but will not fly with the squad to Sydney on December 31 (Friday) for the fourth Ashes Test due to start at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
The remainder of the Australian squad, their families and the team's support staff have undergone PCR and RAT tests on Friday and are still planning to travel to Sydney on December 31.
CA statement
A Cricket Australia (CA) spokesperson said, “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 earlier today. Thankfully, he is asymptomatic at this stage. We anticipate that he will be available to play in the fifth men’s Ashes Test in Hobart.
“We are grateful to our exceptional medical staff for all the work they have done throughout this series and we will continue to work with and support the players, their families and staff from both teams.”
Three additional cover
Three players- Mitchell Marsh, Nic Maddinson and Josh Inglis have joined the Australian squad as additional cover as a precautionary measure, although batsman Usman Khawaja appears most likely to replace Head in the team.
Victorian batsman Maddinson has been in top form for the past two summers and is a new option for selectors if they want to field a younger player than the 35-year-old Khawaja, after selecting the left-hander into the squad because of Head's withdrawal.
The other two additions — Marsh and Inglis — are unlikely replacements because they are an all-rounder and wicketkeeper, rather than batters.
On December 31, there was a huge jump in confirmed Covid-19 cases in Sydney, where the fourth Ashes Test is slated to be played, with 21,151 infections diagnosed up from 12,226 on Thursday.
The Boxing Day Test earlier this week was thrown into chaos after positive cases within the England camp, while Third Test match referee David Boon was tested positive.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins missed the second Test in Adelaide after being a close contact of a confirmed Covid-19 case.
Head becomes the first player to miss a Test in the Ashes series due to testing positive as Covid-19 closes in on the series.
