Ashes: Pat Cummins ruled out of the second Test; Steve Smith named captain
The Australian cricket team has suffered a massive blow hours before the second test as their newly appointed captain was ruled out for the match. According to a post by Cricket Australia, Cummins is said to have come in contact with a covid positive person.
The South Australian Health Department confirmed that Cummins came in close contact with a patron when he went out to have dinner at an Adelaide restaurant on Wednesday. The patron was later identified as carrying the virus, and Cummins was forced to isolate himself for seven days. He has also taken a PCR test which he returned as unfavourable.
The Australian board has confirmed that Cummins had not breached any biosecurity protocol. They also hope their captain returns to the field for the next match.
Australian captain Pat Cummins has been deemed a close contact of a person who received a positive Covid-19 test last night and is unavailable to play in the second Vodafone #Ashes Test.
We anticipate that he will be available to play in the third Test at the MCG in Melbourne. pic.twitter.com/o6JxIdL9pn
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) December 16, 2021
In the meantime, vice-captain Steve Smith will be taking the reigns of the captaincy after almost three years. The last time he captained an Australian side was back in the Cape Town Test, which ended with sandpaper controversy. Simultaneously, Michael Neser will make his Test debut to replace Pat Cummins, while Travis Head will be the vice-captain.
As things stand, Australia will be forced to take the field in the absence of two of their best Test bowlers: Cummins and Hazlewood, who is suffering from a side injury, that is keeping him out of the game.
