Recalled Australian batsman Matt Renshaw is expected to bat on day two at the SCG despite having COVID-19 but will watch most of the match on a television while isolating in a separate room.
Renshaw is back in a baggy green for the first time in five years but his return to the international arena took a dramatic turn on Wednesday morning ahead of the third Test against South Africa due to an all-too-familiar virus.
Eagle-eyed viewers noticed Renshaw was standing away from teammates during the national anthems.
News then came through, courtesy of a Cricket Australia statement, that Renshaw felt unwell before play and had subsequently tested positive to COVID-19.
In 2020, Renshaw would have had to isolate by himself for a minimum of 14 days. In 2023, the protocols have changed significantly.
Renshaw can still take part in the match and according to Australian officials, the 26-year-old feels well enough to bat.
Matt Renshaw sits in an isolation room at the SCG. Credit:Getty
He is likely to do so on day two after bad light and rain meant Australia only faced 47 of a potential 90 overs on the opening day of the final Test of the summer.
Peter Handscomb is on standby to replace Renshaw if his condition worsens but all indications are that he will bat and field as normal.
ICC rules state that if a player tests positive to COVID-19, a like-for-like replacement can come into the team, in a similar way to a concussion substitute.
The Queenslander complained of having “hay fever” symptoms but was instructed to do a rapid antigen test by team doctor Leigh Golding before play.
Matt Renshaw (right) during the national anthems. Credit:Getty
Despite being named on the team sheet when Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat, the newest addition to the Australian dressing room was quickly removed and escorted to a COVID-19 isolation room under the Noble Stand.
“I walked in there [to the changing room] and he was walking out,” said teammate Marnus Labuschagne after play. “He’s fine and he’s playing on. Obviously if he gets to a point where he can’t play, the COVID sub comes in.”
Renshaw couldn’t see the field of play from the room, so watched Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne go about their business on a television above his cricket kit.
When players went off for bad light later in the day, Renshaw walked to the middle to inspect the pitch. Teammate Alex Carey made light of the situation by taking a couple of steps back as Renshaw approached.
It brought back memories of Tahlia McGrath at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last year when the all-rounder played in Australia’s gold medal match against India despite testing positive to COVID-19.
After trying to keep her distance all match, McGrath couldn’t help herself when Australia secured a maiden women’s cricket Commonwealth Games gold medal. She hugged teammates after the final wicket and accepted her gold medal with a mask on.
Renshaw, who will bat at No.6 in this Test, had a grin on his face for most of the day and is thrilled he still gets an opportunity to push his case for selection in Australia’s first match in India next month.
Team officials said on Wednesday afternoon that Renshaw “feels totally fine” and that his symptoms were very minor.
Fans who wanted a selfie with Renshaw had to settle for a photo of the Australian batsman giving them the ‘thumbs up’ a few metres from the fence.
Renshaw may have his captain to blame after Cummins was quizzed about COVID on match eve.
“I still don’t know how we haven’t had COVID in our team,” Cummins told reporters.
Labuschagne was asked if there was any concern about the virus spreading through the Australian camp.
After almost three years of protocols and bubbles and isolation requirements, his response said it all.
“Don’t really care,” Labuschagne said. “It’s just play on.”
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