Australia cricketer Travis Head has tested
positive for COVID-19 on Thursday and has been ruled out of the fourth Test in
Sydney, starting January 5. As Head tested positive for COVID-19, Australia
delayed their flight from Melbourne to Sydney and called up replacements for
the Sydney Test.

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Cricket Australia, the governing body of
Australian cricket, confirmed on Friday morning that Head had tested positive
from a routine PCR test. He is asymptomatic and will remain in Melbourne with
his partner to isolate himself under the Victorian government guidelines.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia called up
Mitchell Marsh, Nic Maddinson and Josh Inglis as cover in case there are
further positive cases within the playing group.

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But it is likely that Usman Khawaja, who is
already part of the Australian squad, will replace Head as a middle-order
batter in the Sydney Test.

A Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed
that the remainder of the Australia squad, families, and support staff have
undergone PCR and RAT tests on Friday morning and are expected to travel to
Sydney on a charter today.

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“As part of our testing procedures, we
are PCR testing players, their families and our support staff daily,” the
spokesman said. “Unfortunately, Travis returned a positive Covid-19 result
earlier today. Thankfully, he is asymptomatic at this stage. We anticipate that
he will be available to play in the fifth Vodafone men’s Ashes Test in Hobart.

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“We are grateful to our exceptional
medical staff for all the work they have done throughout this series and we
will continue to work with and support the players, their families and staff
from both teams.”

England
travelling separately

England, on the other hand, are travelling
separately to Sydney without coach Chris Silverwood after it was confirmed one
of his family members had tested positive for COVID-19. Silverwood, like Head,
will miss the Sydney Test and remain in isolation in Melbourne. That brought
the total number of positive cases in the England touring party to seven
however the entire England playing group has reportedly returned negative PCR
tests in the last 24 hours.

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ICC Match referee David Boon will also miss
the Sydney Test after testing positive to Covid-19. He has been replaced by
Steve Bernard, who is based in New South Wales.