Cricket Australia breaks all rules, decides to play Travis Head despite being COVID positive

Pat Cummins is confident of Travis Head playing in the second Test between Australia and West Indies, scheduled to be played from Thursday (January 25) at the Gabba in Brisbane. The left-handed batsman’s participation in the Test looked highly doubtful after he tested positive for Covid-19.

He did not travel to Brisbane from Adelaide with the rest of the Australian team as Cricket Australia gave him more time to recover. Travis Head was not feeling well right after the first Test in Adelaide before tests confirmed that he was infected by COVID-19.

He has been in isolation since then. And while he is expected to recover before the second Test, Pat Cummins has said that the middle-order batsman will play the game even if he does not test negative. Last year, Australia batsman Matt Renshaw was allowed to play the Sydney Test against South Africa even after he tested positive for Covid-19 just before the start of the Test.

“I think he’s almost out of it,” Pat Cummins told reporters on Tuesday.

“He’ll be fine … he’ll train tonight. Obviously, even if he is still positive he can still play, there might just be a few protocols,” he added.

In case, Travis Head gets the green light to play the Test even if he does not test negative, he will have to follow the International Cricket Council’s COVID safety protocols, which include sitting away from the rest of the team while waiting to bat and keeping distance from teammates in on-field celebrations.

Matt Renshaw in Australia squad as Travis Head recovers:

As Travis Head recovers from Covid-19, Matt Renshaw has been added to the Australia squad as a reserve batter. The left-handed batsman was a reserve batter for the first Test as well before being released to play for Brisbane Heat in the ongoing Big Bash League.

This is not the first time that Travis Head had to deal with Covid during a home Test series. During the 2021/22 Ashes at home, he had to miss the Melbourne Test for the same reason. The left-hander starred with the bat in the first Test and was adjudged Man of the Match.

He scored a fine century to help Australia recover from 129 for 5 and post 283 in reply to West Indies’ first innings total of 188. Australia went on to win the game by 10 wickets to take an unassailable lead in the two-match series.