RCB Paceman Tested For COVID-19; Results Awaited

RCB

Kane-Richardson-ipl

Australia and Royal Challengers Bangalore speedster Kane Richardson has been in detention after being tested for COVID-19 and he is going to miss the first ODI between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. The fast bowler complained of a sore throat one day prior to the game and he was tested for the virus, though the results of the test have not come yet.

Another fast bowler Sean Abbott has been called in as a replacement for Kane Richardson. Abbott was a part of the Australia team’s T20 squad in their recent tour to South Africa. It was expected that Richardson would play in the Gillette ODI Series’ first game against New Zealand in Sydney, where both the teams will take on each other in front of empty stands after Cricket Australia decided to close the doors for the general public in be safe from the outbreak of pandemic coronavirus.

“Our medical staff are treating this a typical throat infection but we are following Australian Government protocols that require us to keep Kane away from other members of the squad and perform the appropriate tests given he has returned from international travel in the last 14 days,” cricket.com.au quoted a Cricket Australia spokesperson as saying.

Kane Richardson
Kane Richardson

He further added that they will receive the results of the tests of Kane soon and he hopes that the speedster will recover in the next few days and re-join the team as well.

However, all three Chappell-Hadlee ODIs will take place behind closed doors. On the other hand, Australian Women’s Cricket Team would not travel to South Africa for the limited-overs series as the tour got cancelled. Notably, there is no impact on the final round of Marsh Sheffield Shield fixtures, which will take place in Perth and Adelaide on March 17 and then in Melbourne on March 19.

Fans will get a full refund who bought tickets to the ODI series. However, the series will broadcast on Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports and ABC Grandstand and Macquarie radio as well. Meanwhile, Australia will travel to New Zealand for a T20I series, which is all set to begin in Dunedin on March 24, but Cricket New Zealand says the series will take place as planned with fans’ presence.