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SYDNEY: Legendary Australian pacer Glenn McGrath has tested positive for Covid-19 days before the 4th Test between Australia and England of the Ashes series at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
The Sydney Test is known as the Pink Test, played in memory of McGrath’s late wife Jane, who died of breast cancer. The Pink Test is used as a fundraiser to support patients suffering from cancer.
McGrath, who has helped turn Australia’s year-opening Test into a fundraising drive, is isolating at home and feels well. “There is hope McGrath will return a negative test in time to attend day three of the SCG Test, now known as Jane McGrath Day,” according to a statement issued by Cricket Australia (CA).
The former paceman will have a virtual presence at the ground on Monday, when both sides are presented with their baggy pink caps. “Glenn has had a PCR test which unfortunately returned a positive result,” McGrath Foundation chief executive Holly Masters said.
“As well as the England cricket team and the broadcasters for their ongoing support for the Pink Test and look forward to still making this the ‘pinkest’ Ashes,” the chief executive added.
Squads
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nic Maddinson, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
England: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Schedule
First Test: Australia won by nine wickets
Second Test: Australia won by 275 runs
Third Test: Australia won by an innings and 14 runs
Fourth Test: January 5-9, SCG
Fifth Test: January 14-18, Blundstone Arena
