Australia v West Indies: Cameron Green, Andrew McDonald test positive for Covid

One of Australia’s biggest stars is still expected to feature in the second Test against West Indies despite testing positive for Covid, but could spend the Test match away from teammates.

Australia has declared Cameron Green a certain starter for the second Test despite his Covid-19 diagnosis, but the all-rounder could be in for “a lonely week” under guidelines that may force him to be separated from teammates.

The Aussies have named an unchanged XI for the pink-ball clash with the West Indies beginning at the Gabba on Thursday despite a somewhat bumpy lead-up in which Green, first Test hero Travis Head and coach Andrew McDonald all contracted the virus.

Head has recovered and has returned a negative test. Having been scratched from training on Tuesday night, Head hit the Brisbane nets on Wednesday and is good to go.

But just as the South Australian was given the green light to proceed as usual, Green and McDonald tested positive. Green did not train with teammates on Wednesday, although McDonald attended the session.

Should the pair still be testing positive when the match begins, they will be consigned to change rooms away from the rest of the camp as part of measures to reduce the spread.

But that will not stop McDonald from attending the game, nor Green from playing in it, including fielding in his customary position at gully.

Cameron Green will likely be excluded from team huddles during the Gabba Test after his Covid diagnosis. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

“Probably a lonely week maybe,” said Aussie vice-captain Steve Smith when asked about the logistics of the Test for Green.

“I think he’s fine. No physical drama at all, just tested positive. Him and Andrew McDonald are both fine.”

The situation with Green is not unprecedented given Matt Renshaw, coincidentally the spare batter in the Australian squad, was forced to sit away from teammates last year after getting Covid during the drawn Sydney Test against South Africa.

Usman Khawaja is fine to play after recovering from the head knock that forced him to retire hurt during the first Test.

It means another chance for Smith and Khawaja to strengthen their new opening combination after a modest start to the Smith experiment at Adelaide Oval.

Smith, who nicked off to Windies debutant Shamar Joseph for 12 in the first innings last week, said he needed to be more disciplined in leaving balls outside off-stump.

Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Cameron Green and Alex Carey of Australia of Australia sing the national anthem at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

“I just need to be a little bit more disciplined. I have had a couple of nice balls that have just gone away from me but didn’t look like they were going away from me, but have drawn me in. I think that is one of the big parts of how I have played throughout my career. I have been pretty disciplined outside off stump. When I am disciplined and leaving well there then I am batting well,” Smith said.

However Smith said he had enjoyed the experience of opening the batting.

“It was fun. I enjoyed it. Obviously I missed out in the first innings. Facing the first ball from Shamar I didn’t really know what to really expect. I feel like a lot of new bowlers have got me out before when I have faced them for the first time so it was nothing new. I felt good. Then in the second innings it was probably the worst time for an opener to bat. You can’t really do much when you are chasing 20. You are on a hiding to nothing in a way. It felt good though.”

Smith praised Guyanese revelation Joseph, who starred with five wickets along with 36 and 15 in his side’s 10-wicket defeat.

“He looks a good talent, what he provides – decent pace, good angles on the crease, the ability to straighten the one down the line across the right-hander. He looks good. And then his batting was good as well, so he’s the all-round package.”

LARA “WORRIED’’ ABOUT LOSING STAR

—Robert Craddock

Brian Lara is concerned pace discovery Shamar Joseph could be lured away from Test cricket as the West Indies consider blooding another boy from the backblocks at the Gabba.

West Indies selectors are giving deep thought to promoting Guyanese batsman and off spinner Kevin Sinclair, who grew up not far from first Test sensation Joseph, in the pink ball Test on Thursday.

Sinclair came from a family so poor he often used to go to school hungry and it was only the occasional handout from canteen ladies that saved him from going hungry all day.

Sinclair, who grew up with the corruptive forces of crime and alcohol abuse swirling around him, now tries to use some of his own earnings from cricket to make a difference to the lives of children facing the same challenges.

Brian Lara is concerned pace discovery Shamar Joseph could be lured away from Test cricket. Picture: AFP

Joseph, also from Guyana, is the talk of the cricket world after dismissing Steve Smith with the first ball of his Test career and taking 5-94 in the first innings of the first Test in Adelaide.

White ball franchises from around the globe are already talking about him and it seems a matter of time before he has to decide whether he craves white ball riches on the franchise circuit or wants to fully commit to the West Indian cause.

“It does worry me,’’ Test great and Fox Cricket’s Lara said of Joseph.

“He has made a huge statement. His international career is three days old and he is already the talk of the town. I am sure there are a lot of scouts looking at him. He has to manage himself. I am almost sure that he got through to this stage playing for the West Indies and it just gives the feeling he would be the sort of player who would enjoy this Test match limelight and want more of it.

“Everyone wants to make sure the financial side of it is secure. I don’t think the West Indian Board has a great grip on its players. There will be some temptations there. Some advances. But at this stage I think he is loving what he is doing.’’

“His decision could come quickly. That is the law of the land. We as a cricket nation suffer because the game has evolved. Don’t get me wrong I approve of franchise cricket and the way the game has gone but it has to be managed properly from a win-win situation.’’

Originally published as Australia v West Indies: Cameron Green, Andrew McDonald test positive for Covid