Leg-spinner Adam Zampa will miss Australia’s T20 World Cup clash with Sri Lanka in Perth, after testing positive to COVID-19.
Despite Cricket Australia revealing Zampa had only displayed minor symptoms, he was left out of the Australian team for their clash in Perth, with Aaron Finch confirming at the coin toss the leg-spinner would be replaced by Ashton Agar.
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Players who test positive for the virus are not prevented from competing at the World Cup, with the team waiting until the last minute to rule Zampa out.
There was uproar when Australian all-rounder Tahlia McGrath played in the Commonwealth Games gold medal match for the women’s side earlier this year in Birmingham while keeping a distance from teammates and opponents.
Australia need to beat Sri Lanka to keep alive their hopes of advancing from the Super 12 stage to the semi-finals following their 89-run drubbing at the hands of New Zealand at the SCG on Saturday night.
Zampa was Australia’s best bowler at last year’s World Cup when Australia won the trophy for the first time.
Adam Zampa reacts during Australia’s T20 World Cup match against New Zealand. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Simmons loses Windies coaching gig after early exit
Phil Simmons will step down as coach of the West Indies following their early elimination at cricket’s T20 World Cup, the team has announced.
Simmons will leave after the Windies’ two-Test series against Australia, which runs from November 30 to December 12.
West Indies lost two of their three group games – against Ireland and Scotland – to miss out on qualifying for the Super 12s stage of the World Cup in Australia.
The Windies made their earliest exit from the global showpiece since the inaugural 2007 tournament in South Africa.
“I acknowledge that it’s not just the team that is hurting but the proud nations we represent as well,” Simmons said. “It’s disappointing and heart wrenching but we just didn’t turn up.
“We weren’t good enough and we now have to watch a tournament play out without our involvement. It’s unfathomable and for that I deeply apologise to our fans and followers.”
Simmons took over for his second stint in charge of the West Indies in 2019. In his first, the team won the World T20 title in 2016.
West Indies will face Australia in the first Test in Perth, beginning at the end of November, before travelling to Adelaide for the second match in the series.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
They had him at #10, behind Cummins and Starc.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Default. It's not a conspiracy; it's incompetence. Haven't you been reading? Only paranoia would read it as a conspiracy.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I was happy with him opening. They seem to have no idea what they have with him. His fluent stroke making, bowling control and savvy and his fielding. Drop Finch and play Agar is an immediate 20 run bonus in the field.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
It’s not raining at the moment :stoked:
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Gee Agar is playing. Maybe it's not all a big conspiracy
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
It's almost like the host country isn't the target audience
Targa
Roar Rookie
If they play Agar they should bat him in the middle order to try to work Hasuranga for singles.
Ali
Guest
A home WC and the game doesn’t start until 10pm on the east coast…that’s some great scheduling there by the ICC,
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If they don't take this opportunity to play Agar, you'll know that the anti-JL brigade don't intend to play him...ever. Zampa is not that good that he can't be left out, especially if he is not in full health.