Brett Lee sent home from Adelaide by Fox Cricket after COVID development

Aussie cricket great Brett Lee has rushed home to be with his family following a dramatic COVID-19 development that has rocked TV networks.

Brett Lee has been sent home to Sydney.

There was high drama even before a ball in the First Test at the Adelaide Oval with reports Aussie test great Brett Lee has rushed home to Sydney to be with his family on the northern beaches following the COVID-19 cluster spread.

He was sent home by Fox Cricket following an urgent memo from Cricket Australia to all media covering the First Test in Adelaide asking for anyone who visited the northern beaches in the past three weeks to inform cricket officials immediately.

Lee was flying home on Friday morning, according to the exclusive report by The Daily Telegraph’s Ben Horne.

Lee is the highest profile cricket casualty of the Sydney cluster which has also reportedly forced Channel 7 and Fox Sports to stand down several producers and behind the scenes staff members as a result of their proximity to the Sydney cluster over the past three weeks.

Brett Lee commentates for Fox Cricket.

Brett Lee poses for a portrait for Fox Cricket at the SCG. Picture: Brett Costello

Several staff members from both networks have been stood down pending COVID tests.

Lee reportedly has no symptoms and has not been to any of the notified hot spots.

He made the decision to return home to ensure he will be with his family for Christmas.

Fox Sports boss Steve Crawley said: “We had a good talk last night. He went back this morning. Of course everyone is being responsible and he totally understood that.

“We have had to send out a number of staff to get them tested. Brett is in the air now, he’s gone back this morning.

“It was just the right thing to do and he was very comfortable doing that.”

Soon after, NewsCorp revealed former Australian Test captain Ian Chappell has suffered the same fate, and would be forced into 14 days quarantine.

Chappell was reportedly told by the South Australian Government midway through day two he would be unable to complete his commentary gig for ABC Grandstand.

Meanwhile, former Australian spin bowler Gavin Robertson, Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and broadcaster Matt White also returned to Sydney. The trio are part of SEN’s radio commentary team.