Pat Cummins Expects Travis Head Will Play Gabba Test Match Against West Indies Despite COVID-19

Pat Cummins anticipates that Travis Head will overcome his recent bout of Covid and be ready to participate in the second NRMA Insurance Test match against West Indies in Brisbane.

Despite earning the player of the match title for his outstanding 119 against the Windies in Adelaide last week, Head contracted the virus after Australia’s convincing 10-wicket victory. Although the 30-year-old did not travel to Brisbane with the rest of the squad, Captain Cummins expressed confidence that Head would have a practice session in the Gabba nets on Tuesday night, just two days ahead of the opening day of the day-night Test.

Cummins reassured reporters at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, stating, “I think he’s almost out of it. He’ll be fine … he’ll train tonight. Obviously, even if he is still positive, he can still play; there might just be a few protocols.”

In the event that Head continues to test positive on Thursday, he would need to adhere to the International Cricket Council’s Covid safety protocols, including sitting apart from the rest of the team while waiting to bat and maintaining distance from teammates during on-field celebrations. This situation is not unfamiliar to Head, as he previously had to deal with Covid during a home Test series when he was ruled out of the Melbourne Test in the 2021-22 Ashes series.

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Matt Renshaw, who participated in the Brisbane Heat’s KFC BBL|13 Challenger Final against the Adelaide Strikers on Monday night, serves as the squad’s reserve batter.

The Australian team has already experienced a similar scenario, with Renshaw isolating during last year’s Sydney Test when he tested positive during the South Africa Test. Moreover, Australia all-rounder Tahlia McGrath played in the 2022 Commonwealth Games Gold Medal match despite being a positive case.

As the team prepares for their first pink-ball Test match in over 12 months, the Australians have a net session under lights at the Gabba on Tuesday, followed by an optional practice session on Wednesday. The second NRMA Insurance Test match against West Indies is scheduled at the Gabba from January 25 to 29, starting at 3 pm AEDT.

Australia Test Squad:

1. Pat Cummins (c)
2. Scott Boland
3. Alex Carey
4. Cameron Green
5. Josh Hazlewood
6. Travis Head
7. Usman Khawaja
8. Marnus Labuschagne
9. Nathan Lyon
10. Mitchell Marsh
11. Matthew Renshaw
12. Steve Smith
13. Mitchell Starc

West Indies Test Squad:

1. Kraigg Brathwaite (c)
2. Alzarri Joseph (vc)
3. Tagenarine Chanderpaul
4. Kirk McKenzie
5. Alick Athanaze
6. Kavem Hodge
7. Justin Greaves
8. Joshua Da Silva
9. Akeem Jordan
10. Gudakesh Motie
11. Kemar Roach
12. Kevin Sinclair
13. Tevin Imlach
14. Shamar Joseph
15. Zachary McCaskie