After being called up for the third and final Test against South Africa, Australia batsman Matt Renshaw tested positive for Covid in a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT). After injuries to speedster Mitchell Starc and all-rounder Cameron Green in the second Test in Melbourne, the 26-year-old and Ashton Agar were called up to the national team.
On the first day of the Sydney Test, the batter felt ill just before playing his first red-ball match in over five years. Later, Renshaw was observed standing apart from his teammates for the national anthems and sitting away from the dugout on the boundary line to avoid interaction with his teammates. However, a CA representative stated that the batter will remain in the competition.
“Australian batsman Matthew Renshaw reported feeling sick soon before play in the third Test match against South Africa in Sydney and was removed from the team. Renshaw has subsequently tested positive for RAT. “He will continue to participate in the match,” a CA representative said.
Renshaw last played for the red-ball squad against the same opponents in the notorious sandpapergate incident in 2018. Despite playing the game with Covid in Sydney, Peter Handscomb was listed as a late substitution in case a Covid substitute was required later in the game.
Incidentally, on the eve of the Test match, Australia captain Pat Cummins addressed the matter of the virus and declared that the team was ‘back to regular life’.
“I still don’t understand how we didn’t have Covid on our squad. “It seems like we’re back to normal,” added the captain.
It remains to be seen if Renshaw will play the whole game or whether Handscomb will come in as a replacement. The Australians have already grabbed a 2-0 series lead coming into the fourth Test in Sydney.
