Ashes chaos as Travis Head test positive for Covid

Australia’s Travis Head tested positive for Covid on New Year’s Eve, throwing the fourth Ashes Test into disarray. The fourth Test of the Ashes is now in jeopardy. The Australian batter was the first player from either team to test positive for a banned substance.

There have been eight positive tests in the England camp so far. However, only family members and coaching personnel were subjected to these examinations. Head received the outcome on January 4, just hours before the teams were scheduled to fly to Sydney. The fourth Test will be Head’s 100th, and it will begin on January 5.

On Friday morning, the England players and their entourage had mixed results. There were no further tests that came back positive. The last individual in the camp to receive a positive test result was a family member of England head coach Chris Silverwood. Silverwood will also remain in Melbourne and will not take part in the following Test match.

As the Boxing Day Test progressed, the first good outcomes began to emerge in the England team. Because the infection appeared to be limited to family and coaching staff, there was just a minor delay in the commencement of play on day two.

Because Head was the first to catch the virus, it’s more likely that it’s spread to other players. It may take a few days to determine the extent of the spread and if the fourth Test can proceed as planned.

Mitchell Marsh, the player of the match in the previous Twenty20 World Cup Final, has been invited into the Australian side as a replacement to be safe. The team also includes Nic Maddinson and Josh Ingli.

England dispatches an emergency coach to assist them.
For the fourth Test, there will be an emergency coaching cover. Because of Covid guidelines tightened after Joe Head failed a drug test, Adam Hollioake will only be able to work with the players outside.

They’ve also put Big Bash players on standby in case the team becomes ill with covida.

After Silverwood was quarantined due to a virus, Hollioake is set to arrive in England on Sunday to assist with preparations.

Earlier this week, both Jonah Lewis and Jeetan Patel tested positive for narcotics. This resulted in a one-person reduction in the number of coaches working with England’s bowling and spin bowling teams.

Graham Thorpe is filling in for Silverwood in Sydney, and he’s reached out to an old Surrey teammate for assistance.

Other coaches have been put through far more testing than Hollioake has. Because he hasn’t done so, he can only work with the players outdoors. He’ll be able to work with the players outside to reduce risk. Only on Tuesday, the day before the match, when there is a potential of rain, will this be an issue.

It’s not as if he’s just another set of hands. Some events in his life have caused him to pause and reflect. He’ll say things like, “This is cricket, and we’re going to play to win,” but can you improve? I know him well, and if we can get him in, he’ll be a good person. The teacher remarks, “He can add a little bit of excitement to the dressing room.”

How might the Ashes Test be called off because of Covid?
This was written by him.

Is it going to happen?
Travis Head, an Australian batsman, has been diagnosed with Covid-19. This has sparked concerns about the fourth Ashes Test, which will take place next week in Australia. The rest of the team was immediately tested, and Australia remained in Melbourne while waiting for the results of the other players. Mitchell Marsh, Nic Maddinson, and Josh Inglis have all been added to Australia’s roster as potential back-ups in case of further injuries. The match will begin on January 5. England has already arrived in Sydney, and there is a tremendous desire to play the match, despite the fact that it has now become a “dead rubber” after Australia grabbed a 3-0 series lead. Several Covid scares have already struck the England team, but the team has remained unaffected thus far.

What will happen if the Test is canceled?
Cancelling the Test is not a smart idea, and it is something that everyone is terrified of. The Ashes is a good means to earn points in the World Test Championship, which will take place from 2021 to 2023. Each Test match victory is worth up to 12 points. Because England is already in Sydney, they don’t want to risk having to travel back for the match, which would be inconvenient. Cricket Australia might also lose a significant amount of money if the game is canceled. They could lose money on ticket sales and miss out on the opportunity to profit from the game being broadcast on television.

Is there a fifth test?
The fifth Test will begin in Hobart in January. Visitors to Tasmania will be subject to different Covid rules than those in Sydney or Melbourne. People who are close to people who have Covid-19 must stay away from them for seven days, according to current Covid-19 rules on the island state. The government announced last week that applying the restrictions to the two cricket teams and their support workers could be more practicable.

“The fifth Ashes Test will still be held in Hobart, and the Tasmanian government fully supports it,” said the government. This will be a watershed moment in the state’s history. It will continue to work with Cricket Australia and the Department of Public Health to ensure that the match is safe and that all Covid-related issues are addressed.

Have there been any additional games canceled?
In Australia, there have been numerous Covid-19 cases, however the Sydney Thunder vs. Adelaide Strikers match on Friday night went on despite the Thunder squad having four Covid-19 cases. After urgent consultations between public health officials and Cricket Australia, the decision was made. The game was to be conducted under “level five” protocols, which meant Thunder players would be separated from one another and from their opponents. The Melbourne Stars’ match against the Perth Scorchers on Sunday is extremely likely due to the fact that another 14 persons were sick on Friday.