Ashes 2021 LIVE: Pat Cummins confident for Boxing Day Test- Australia captain Cummins is all set to return after seven days isolation after testing negative for COVID-19. Otherwise, he would have to undergo 10 days of isolation and test negative for the virus. In either case, Cummins is likely to recover for the upcoming third test at MCG, Melbourne. Follow Ashes 2021 live updates on InsideSport.IN
Ashes 2021 LIVE: Pat Cummins confident for Boxing Day Test; Cricket Australia defends COVID protocols
Heart of the matter- Ahead of the start of the second Test, Cummins was ruled out of the game after being deemed a close contact of a person who received a positive COVID-19 test last night.
- If he tests negative- Cummins must undergo further COVID tests on day six of his confinement. If he tests negative again after 6 days then he can rejoin the Australia squad on 8th day.
- If Tests positive- Additional SA Health protocols- undergo another test on day 13 and not attend a major event where crowds exceed 1,000 people for 14 days.
Meanwhile, Fast bowlers Mark Steketee and Scott Boland have joined Australia’s Test squad in Adelaide. But Cricket Australia remained hopeful the Test skipper. “Just a really unfortunate and really disappointing situation,” Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley told the media.
“I think we’ve just been extremely unlucky. For Pat it’s just a case of wrong place, wrong time. Thankfully we’ve got great leaders to step up and step in, and hopefully there’s a seven-day period and we (Australia team) are back to full strength come Boxing Day,” he added.
Talking about COVID rules & regulations, Hockley said: “We’re working on that at the moment. We know he has to isolate for seven days. What we’ve done throughout this period, when we’ve had quarantine arrangements, we’ve been able to get fitness and gym equipment into those environments. Medical teams, physios, we’ll be doing everything we can within the parameters to make sure he’s in the best possible shape for the next Test.”
Ashes 2021 LIVE: Cricket Australia defends COVID protocols- Cricket Australia has defended its biosecurity protocols after captain Pat Cummins was forced to withdraw from the second Ashes Test in Adelaide. His absence from the match is a big blow to Australia’s hopes of extending their lead in the five-Test series after winning the opener in Brisbane.
Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley said the 28-year-old had done nothing wrong and was acting within the protocols set by its medical team.
“We have protocols that flex according to risk levels of each jurisdiction,” Hockley told reporters at Adelaide Oval.
“We are looking at them every single day. We are comfortable with the protocols with what they are for SA (South Australia).
“We don’t want to completely lock down the players, we want to take a proportionate approach, we are very conscious of their mental wellbeing.”
- The only limit on Australia’s players in Adelaide are that they head out in public in small groups.
Australia were fortunate not to lose three first-choice players for the pink ball Test, with fast bowler Mitchell Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon also dining at the same restaurant. However, because they ate at a separate table outdoors, they were deemed casual contacts by authorities and allowed to play.
- Australia’s players are all fully vaccinated and are free to mix in public in South Australia where active COVID cases remain low.
- Authorities reported 25 new cases on Thursday, bringing active cases up to 92.
Cummins led Australia to a nine-wicket win over England in the Ashes opener in Brisbane, his first match as captain. His withdrawal sees vice-captain Steve Smith regain the captaincy for the first time since the 2018 Newlands ball-tampering scandal. Smith is Australia’s third captain in three Tests following Tim Paine’s resignation over a ‘sexting’ scandal in the lead-up to the series.
“Steve has served his ban in full and by his own admission has grown as lot as a person. He’s done a huge amount of good work in the community,” said Hockley.
“We ran a really thorough process for the laTest leadership positions and we felt he had demonstrated that he was … fit to hold a leadership position again.
“He is the best person to step in.”
Schedule
- First Test: Australia won
- Second Test: December 16-20, Adelaide Oval
- Third Test: December 26-30, MCG
- Fourth Test: January 5-9, SCG
- Fifth Test: January 14-18, Blundstone Arena
Ashes 2021 LIVE: Pat Cummins confident for Boxing Day Test; Cricket Australia defends COVID protocols
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