Second Ashes Test struck by fresh Covid-19 drama

Days after Pat Cummins was withdrawn from the Adelaide Test, another Ashes player has become embroiled in a Covid-19 scare. 

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 18: Spectators in the crowd enjoy the atmosphere during day three of the Second Test match in the Ashes series between Australia and England at the Adelaide Oval on December 18, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Adelaide Oval confirmed two members of the venue’s broadcast crew have tested positive to Covid-19 ahead of day four of the second Ashes Test between Australia and England.

The ground’s media centre on the fourth floor of the southern stand was deep-cleaned on Sunday after a broadcaster returned a positive Covid-19 result as part of scheduled testing. According to reports, ABC and BBC commentators have been told to stay in their hotel.

Australian players were entering the venue when News Corp broke the story.

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“SA Health are aware and we have begun to trace and notify this person’s close contacts,” Adelaide Oval’s official Twitter account posted on Sunday afternoon.

“In accordance with our pre-planning we undertaking a deep clean of the relevant areas and are facilitating alternative facilities for relevant officials as required.”

Media have been required to undergo several Covid-19 tests and wear masks while covering the day-night Test match.

As reported by News Corp, the unidentified person is understood to have interviewed England batter Dawid Malan on Saturday. However, the broadcaster was wearing a mask during the interview, so there is no issue with the cricketer.

Later, Fox Cricket presenter Kath Loughnan reported that a second member of the Adelaide Oval broadcast staff had tested positive, and SA Health were working through close contacts.

“There’s been a scare in the media centre this morning,” Loughnan said on Fox Cricket. “So everybody is on alert, not just the players.”

Adelaide Oval soon confirmed: “We have been made aware of a second member of the visiting media who has returned a positive Covid result as part of the scheduled day six testing.

“This individual was working in the media centre in the western stand. He has not attended the ground today and neither have his close contacts. We are undertaking a clean of the relevant media area in-line with our protocols.

“SA Health have been advised.”

Distinctly different feel in the media centre today, as you might expect from a group of people hoping Christmas isn't ruined.

Tighter crackdown on wearing masks, sanitising hands, while there are noticeably far more empty desks.

— Jacob Polychronis (@J_Polychronis) December 19, 2021

Spectators in the crowd enjoy the atmosphere at Adelaide Oval. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The Age reported that former England bowler and Fox Cricket commentator Isa Guha was required to take a Covid-19 test on Sunday, but returned a negative result. Guha is also a member of the BBC Test Match Special team.

According to the report, SA Health has allowed her to return to commentary duties.

On Saturday, Australian paceman Mitchell Starc revealed he was one text message away from being withdrawn from the second Test.

Test captain Pat Cummins has not featured in the pink-ball fixture after the bowler was deemed a close contact of a person who had tested positive for Covid-19.

According to reports, Cummins had a brief conversation with the person at the Little Hunter Steakhouse on Wednesday evening and even shook their hand.

Starc and Australian teammate Nathan Lyon were seated only a few metres away from the person who tested positive, but they were deemed causal contacts because they dined outdoors.

Speaking to reporters at stumps on day three, Starc confessed he and Lyon were “a bit lucky” not to be sitting inside the venue with Cummins.

“It was just fortunate we were sitting outside,” he said. “That was almost a bit of a p***take because Pat didn’t reply to our message, so we thought we’d sit away from him and sit outside.

“So it was a bit lucky.”

Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

On Thursday, Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley refused to confirm whether the Adelaide Test could have gone ahead if SA Health deemed Starc and Lyon to have been close contacts as well.

The South Australian Government granted Cummins permission to return home to New South Wales on a single charter flight following his Covid-19 scare.

As reported by Loughnan, Cummins is currently not obliged to isolate in Sydney because the restaurant he attended is not listed as a “place of high concern” on the NSW government website.