West Indies vs Australia, West Indies-Australia 2nd ODI Postponed Due To COVID-19.

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Friday, 23rd July 2021

Officials announced on Thursday that the scheduled second One-Day International between the West Indies and Australia at Kensington Oval had been postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test. "The second One-Day International (ODI) between the West Indies and Australia has been postponed due to a positive Covid-19 test result from a non-playing member of the West Indies team," said a statement from Cricket West Indies. "Due to the Covid-19 protocols, this decision was made after the coin toss at Kensington Oval once the result was known."

"Today, all members of both teams, as well as match officials, will be retested. Once the test results are known, a decision on when the match will be replayed will be made."

According to the International Cricket Council, all personnel inside the bio-secure bubble for the series will be isolated.

Cricket West Indies chief executive Johnny Grave later expressed optimism that the results of a new round of PCR tests would be available on Friday morning.

Following that, a decision will be made on the remaining two ODIs of the tour.

The postponement came as a result of a delay in the start of the match after Alex Carey won the toss and chose to bat first.

Australia had won the first match on the DLS method by 133 runs two days earlier at the same venue.

Players were seen returning to their respective locker rooms just minutes before the start of a match in which fast bowler Riley Meredith was set to make his ODI debut, having received his cap from injured appointed captain Aaron Finch before the toss.

The postponement on Thursday jeopardises not only the remaining two ODIs on this tour, but also Australia's tour to Bangladesh, which was only confirmed on Thursday and for which the squad was supposed to depart after the scheduled final match on Saturday, also at Kensington Oval.

"Unfortunate," ex-West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop tweeted.

"It's the risk that must be taken in these trying times. I hope the individual is not too harmed."

Pakistan will also play five Twenty20 Internationals and two Test matches in the Caribbean.

The T20 series begins on July 27 in Barbados as well.

The two Tests will be held in Jamaica from August 12 to 16 and 20 to 24.

The News Talkie Bureau

Source

NDTV