First player tests positive for covid to put 4th Ashes Test on the edge

Aussie batsman Travis Head is the first player from either side to test positive for covid and must remain in isolation in Melbourne

The fourth Ashes Test is on a knife edge after Travis Head became the first player from either team to test positive for Covid 19.

Head must now isolate in Melbourne for the next seven days along with his partner who is a close contact, while the rest of his teammates flew to Sydney on a private charter.

The 28-year-old’s positive case, coming just two days after the end of the Boxing Day Test match, would suggest that there are likely to be further positives within the Australian camp following a period of incubation.

And it is only a sudden change of definition as to what a close contact now is, which will have prevented several more Aussie players from being forced into isolation in any case.

But with a clear worry that more will test positive Cricket Australia have called up three extra players to their squad as a precaution with Mitchell Marsh, Nic Maddinson and Josh Inglis all heading to Sydney to link up with the team, and one of them could well move straight into the team.

The Aussie’s flight was delayed as a knock on impact of Head’s result with a further round of testing being done, but England’s players and management returned a full set of negative PCR tests and were able to fly up to Sydney without issue.

It must be remembered that there are already seven positive cases in the England camp as well as the match referee David Boon, indicating unsurprisingly, that the virus is proving difficult to control without strict bio bubbles.

And it is clearly a risk the England players are willing to take to avoid being placed under even heavier restrictions that they are currently observing.

A Cricket Australia 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 Vodafone 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.”

Head’s unavailability should lead to a recall for Usman Khawaja into the middle order after he narrowly missed out on selection at the start of the series, but with the contest already won by the home side, they may try someone else with an eye on future contests.

All three new call ups have been playing in the Big Bash recently, with T20 World Cup winning star Marsh lighting up the tournament in particular, but covid has brought that to a shuddering halt too.

There are 15 positive cases within the Melbourne Stars camp including seven players, while the Sydney Thunder have revealed they have four cases in their dressing room.

It means the huge New Year’s eve clash between the Thunder and the Adelaide Strikers is under serious threat following the Stars v Perth Scorchers postponment the night before.