Australia could be without captain Pat Cummins for the second Ashes Test in Adelaide after the paceman was identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Cummins and a fellow cricketer dined at an Adelaide restaurant on Wednesday evening with an individual on a neighbouring table testing positive.
While Cummins is understood to have left the venue immediately, his availability for the pink ball Test has been deemed “unlikely” according to the report.
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With Josh Hazlewood already sidelined due to a side strain, losing Cummins would be a major blow to Australia’s chances of winning the second Test.
“It’s not just Cricket Australia’s worst nightmare, it’s sport’s worst nightmare,” ex-Australian captain Mark Taylor told Wide World of Sports when asked about Cummins’ situation.
“The obvious reaction from some people will be to suggest the players should be in a bubble, but they can’t keep doing that forever. It’s not good for them and it’s not good for the sport.”
If the 28-year-old is unable to take his place in the side, vice-captain Steve Smith would captain Australia in a Test for the first time since the infamous Cape Town Test in 2018.
Uncapped Queensland paceman Michael Neser, who took seven wickets for Australia A last week, is expected to replace Cummins in Australia’s line-up.