Steve Smith will captain Australia for the first time since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, after Pat Cummins has been deemed a Covid-19 close contact.
Cummins was dining in a restaurant last night and did not breach any biosecurity protocols. Cricket Australia said Cummins isolated as soon as he became aware of the situation and has since had a PCR test, which produced a negative result.
Health authorities in South Australia confirmed that because Cummins is a close contact he will be required to isolate for seven days. As a consequence, the pace bowler is unavailable to play in the second Ashes day-night Test match in Adelaide, starting tonight.
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Cricket Australia anticipate that he will be available to play in the third Ashes Test at the MCG in Melbourne.
Michael Neser comes into the playing XI to make his Test debut and Travis Head will be vice-captain.
"Cummins is understandably very disappointed not to be able to captain Australia for the day-night test in Adelaide," Cricket Australia said.
Cummins, the world's top-ranked test bowler, led Australia to a nine-wicket win over England in the Ashes opener in Brisbane, his first match as captain.
His exclusion from the Adelaide test is a blow for Australia as they look to take a 2-0 lead in the five-test series.
Cricket Australia said fast bowler Mitchell Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon were dining at the same restaurant as Cummins but at a separate table outdoors.
They were deemed casual contacts and are free to play.
- Reuters