Australia coach McDonald fears more COVID cases in squad
Wade, the only wicketkeeper in the squad, is the second Australian cricketer to test positive on Wednesday night, after Legspinner Zampa.
Cricket PassionEditor
Posted - 2022-10-29T14:04:02+06:00
Updated - 2022-10-29T14:04:02+06:00
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald fears there are more COVID-19 cases in his T20 World Cup squad after Adam Zampa and Matthew Wade contracted the virus midway into their title defense.
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald fears there are more COVID-19 cases in his T20 World Cup squad after Adam Zampa and Matthew Wade contracted the virus midway into their title defense. Wade, the only wicketkeeper in the squad, is the second Australian cricketer to test positive on Wednesday night, after Legspinner Zampa. However, Wade was due to play England in his rainy blockbuster duel on Friday.
That's very likely (more COVID cases), really the way it's gone. I guess the strong point was that Matthew Wade would be playing tonight (Friday). So everyone is affected differently by the virus," McDonald said after the game was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Zampa had previously tested positive for COVID and was forced to miss Australia's win over Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
“Obviously Zampa wasn't quite right. We had a caution there to make sure he was ready to go for that game, while Wade reacted completely differently, less symptoms and he was ready to go tonight.
“(Zampa) had to be isolated from the group. That was probably the only place we had to communicate separately from him, which is a bit unique. But yeah, it's a real possibility for all teams," he added.
Ireland's Geroge Dockrell is the other cricketer to have tested positive for the virus so far in the tournament but featured in Sunday's nine-wicket loss to Sri Lanka.
The Australian government lifted mandatory isolation requirements for COVID positive cases earlier this month.
According to current ICC regulations, a positive test does not prevent a player from participating in the ongoing T20 World Championship or from training with his teammates.