Relieved cricketers bowl out of quarantine

Steve Smith, David Warner, Pat Cummins and other Australian stars emerged from quarantine on Monday but aren’t out for long

Australian cricketer Moises Henriques leaves a Sydney hotel on Monday. Picture: John Grainger

Cricketers Steve Smith, David Warner and Pat Cummins were among a large group to emerge blinking into the Sydney sunlight on Monday morning after an ­ordeal that saw them have to flee the humanitarian crisis in India.

The players, coaches and commentators left Australia earlier in the year to work at the Indian Premier League, which was postponed after the virus penetrated its biosecurity and infected some players and staff.

Former batsman Michael Hussey caught Covid and was transferred to Chennai; the others had to wait in the Maldives for a government border ban to be lifted.

Steve Smith. Picture: John Grainger

The group was flown home by Indian cricket authorities on a charter plane, but tens of thousands of Australians, some of whom died, are still stranded.

Public outrage at perceived privilege and advantage led most players to impose a media ban on themselves in the past month, but cricket authorities insist they sought no special treatment.

Former player turned commentator Lisa Sthalekar wrote an emotional piece for The Australian and was relieved to finally be home on Monday. “Home after a long and emotional trip,” she wrote on social media. “Cannot thank the BCCI enough for everything they did. They certainly went above and beyond. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of the millions … still suffering.”

Warner posted an image of himself celebrating his return with wife Candice Falzon at the home they share with their three daughters. “So good to be back with my bestie, cheers my love,” he wrote on Instagram.

Glenn Maxwell. Picture: John Grainger

Cummins’s pregnant wife appeared to wipe away tears as she greeted her husband.

The players have only a short time at home before the one-day and T20 teams leave for a tour of the West Indies next month. Their Indian paymasters have rescheduled the IPL tournament for later in the year, which leaves some with the prospect of not being in the country and out of quarantine until the first Test of the summer.

Cricket Australia announced interim chief executive Nick Hockley has been given the job permanently on Monday and one of his first issues will be dealing with the players and the fixture bottle neck. “Our first priority is to make sure (the players) are reunited with their families, to make sure they are safe and well,” he said.

“We also have a tour to prepare for in the West Indies but … that is something we need to discuss.”