Head to miss Sydney Test after testing positive for Covid-19

Australian middle-order batter Travis Head has been ruled out of the fourth Ashes Test, which will get underway from January 5 in Sydney, after testing positive for Covid-19, Cricket Australia confirmed on Friday (December 31). 

Head is asymptomatic and will remain in Melbourne and isolate with his partner for seven days. Is it not clear whether other Australian players were close contacts.

Mitchell Marsh, Nic Maddinson and Josh Inglis have been called into the squad as cover, but the experienced Usman Khawaja is favourite to take Head's place and play his first Test since the 2019 Ashes.

"As part of our testing procedures, we are PCR testing players, their families and our support staff daily. Unfortunately, Travis returned a positive Covid-19 result earlier today. Thankfully, he is asymptomatic at this stage. We anticipate that he will be available to play in the fifth Vodafone men's Ashes Test in Hobart," said a Cricket Australia spokesperson.

The 28-year-old left-handed batter has been in pretty good form of late. Head is Australia's leading run-scorer in the ongoing series, having slammed 248 runs in four innings at an average of 62 and a strike rate of 86.71. Only England captain Joe Root (253 in six innings at 42.17) has scored more runs than Head in this series.

Head is the latest positive coronavirus case on the Ashes tour with England's under-pressure coach Chris Silverwood also out of the Sydney Test after a family member failed a test.

The touring party has so far registered seven positives -- three support staff and four family members -- since a PCR testing regime was implemented on Monday after the virus was first detected during the Boxing Day Test.

England fast bowling coach Jon Lewis, spin coach Jeetan Patel and strength and conditioning boss Darren Veness are reportedly among those in isolation. International Cricket Council match referee David Boon, who has officiated at every Test so far, will also be absent in Sydney after he too tested positive.

Australia have already retained the Ashes after comfortable wins in the first three Tests at Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne and are looking to sweep England in the five-match series.

(With inputs from AFP)