Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald was forced to stay back on the day of the team's departure for the tour of Sri Lanka following a positive COVID-19 test.
COVID CONCERN
Andrew McDonald tests positive for Covid19, stays back in Australia
Subject to clearing further COVID testing, McDonald is expected to link up with the team in Colombo ahead of the second T20I © Getty
McDonald, who succeeded Justin Langer recently, returned a positive result on Tuesday afternoon, barely hours ahead of leaving for his first assignment as full-time coach with the team as Australia tour Sri Lanka for the first time in six years.
McDonald, who was interim head coach on the team's successful tour of Pakistan earlier this year, will remain in Melbourne under isolation for seven days, Cricket Australia said. In his absence, assistant coach Michael Di Venuto will helm the squad for the start of the T20I series, on June 7. Subject to clearing further COVID testing, McDonald is expected to link up with the team in Colombo ahead of the second T20I, the following day.
After weeks of speculation and uncertainty, due to widespread power and fuel shortages in the island nation, Sri Lanka Cricket, on Monday, confirmed that the white-ball series - comprising three T20Is and five ODIs - will indeed be played under lights as per the
