After testing positive for Covid-19 on the morning of the series decider against South Africa, Australian batter Matthew Renshaw's Test return suffered a setback. Nevertheless, he will still play in the game on Wednesday at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in this city.
Renshaw, who was taking part in his first Test since 2018, was named to the playing XI despite returning a positive fast antigen test after feeling unwell prior to the SCG Test. He was set to bat at number six. The left-handed batter stood apart from his teammates for the national anthems before sitting on the boundary edge, far from the dugout.
"Australian batter Matthew Renshaw reported feeling unwell shortly before play in the third Test match against South Africa in Sydney and was separated from the squad. Renshaw has since returned a positive RAT test. He will continue to take part in the match," a Cricket Australia (CA) spokesperson said.
After the International Cricket Council (ICC) changed the regulations in 2020 to allow Covid substitutions in response to the pandemic, Australia could have changed Renshaw in their starting lineup even if the match had started with him named on the squad sheet.
Like-for-like players must be used as replacements. Peter Handscomb has also been named on their team sheet as a sub fielder, but it is believed he will only be called into action if Australia were to have numerous injuries similar to what they experienced in Melbourne. For Renshaw, that would likely be backup batter Marcus Harris.
Notably, players are now allowed to compete in a game even if a Covid-19 test is positive. In a similar situation, Tahlia McGrath competed in the Commonwealth Games final against India last year, while Matthew Wade was scheduled to play against England at the T20 World Cup before the match was postponed.
Interestingly, on the eve of the Test, skipper Pat Cummins had mentioned how, after two years of various constraints, this summer had been much more typical.
"I still don't know how we haven't had Covid in our team now I think about it," Cummins said, before Renshaw had tested positive.
"It feels like it's back to normal life. Even at Christmas, we were able to have more families there than we have in the past. Interstate travel, the Sydney guys are staying at home -- life feels really normal.
"Everyone's in great spirits because everyone feels like they've got their summers back to normality. It's great. I think you've seen it with crowds as well, they've been fantastic this summer," he added.