Australia will 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.
Cummins dined at an Adelaide restaurant on Wednesday evening with an individual seated at a neighbouring table testing positive to the virus.
The 28-year-old left the venue immediately and has since returned a negative result from a PCR test, but will be required to isolate for seven days as per SA Health protocols for vaccinated individuals.
LIVE UPDATES: Aussies rocked as captain ruled out due to COVID-19 rules
READ MORE: F1 considers barring team contact with race director
Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon were also present at the same restaurant, but dined at a separate outdoors table. SA Health has deemed the pair as casual contacts, meaning they are free to play.
https://twitter.com/patcummins30/status/1471302140597456896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Cricket Australia expects Cummins to be back in the line-up for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Cummins’ last-minute scratching means vice-captain Steve Smith will lead Australia for the first time since the Cape Town Test in 2018. Travis Head will be the vice-captain.
READ MORE: David Warner’s selection a gamble Australia must take, says Mark Taylor
READ MORE: NSW great’s golden line that shut up Fatty Vautin
Uncapped Queensland paceman Michael Neser, who took seven wickets for Australia A last week against the England Lions, will make his long-awaited Test debut as Cummins’ replacement.
With Josh Hazlewood already sidelined due to a side strain, losing Cummins is 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.”