Aussies call up surprise standby as COVID-19 strikes

1 year ago 77

By Brett Graham and Damien McCartney

Australian batter Matthew Renshaw has tested affirmative for COVID-19 connected a RAT connected the opening greeting of the third Test against South Africa.

He is asymptomatic, and nether COVID-19 guidelines is inactive escaped to play astatine the SCG, nevertheless helium indispensable beryllium distant from his teammates successful the sheds, and connected the sidelines.

Peter Handscomb has been named arsenic an exigency fielder for Australia, and could travel into the broadside arsenic a COVID-19 substitute if needed.

"Australian batter Matthew Renshaw reported feeling unwell soon earlier play successful the 3rd Test lucifer against South Africa successful Sydney and was separated from the squad," a Cricket Australian spokesperson said.

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"Renshaw has since returned a affirmative RAT. He volition proceed to instrumentality portion successful the match."

During the anthems, Renshaw was lasting a small mode distant from Josh Hazlewood, and didn't enactment his limb astir the returning accelerated bowler similar his teammates were.

"So frustrating for him - he's done specified bully enactment successful getting backmost into this broadside and (COVID-19) strikes connected the greeting of the game," Kerry O'Keeffe said successful commentary for Fox Cricket.

"Feel desperately disappointed for Matt Renshaw … he's a soundless fig determination but helium inactive has a relation to play."

It's Renshaw's archetypal Test since 2018, with the left-hander listed to bat astatine No.6.

It's not the archetypal clip Australia has been impacted by COVID-19 this summer. At the T20 World Cup, Matthew Wade tested affirmative and was acceptable to play the lucifer against England astatine the MCG, which was yet abandoned owed to rainfall without a shot being bowled.

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