Andrew McDonald tests positive for Covid19, stays back in Australia

Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald was forced to stay back on the day of the team's departure for the tour of Sri Lanka following a positive COVID-19 test.

McDonald, who succeeded Justin Langer recently, returned a positive result on Tuesday afternoon, barely hours ahead of leaving for his first assignment as full-time coach with the team as Australia tour Sri Lanka for the first time in six years.

McDonald, who was interim head coach on the team's successful tour of Pakistan earlier this year, will remain in Melbourne under isolation for seven days, Cricket Australia said. In his absence, assistant coach Michael Di Venuto will helm the squad for the start of the T20I series, on June 7. Subject to clearing further COVID testing, McDonald is expected to link up with the team in Colombo ahead of the second T20I, the following day.

After weeks of speculation and uncertainty, due to widespread power and fuel shortages in the island nation, Sri Lanka Cricket, on Monday, confirmed that the white-ball series - comprising three T20Is and five ODIs - will indeed be played under lights as per the original schedule.

"There is no disruption in the schedule and the white ball games will be night or day-night affairs," SLC secretary Mohan de Silva told Cricbuzz on Tuesday.

This is the first assignment for not just McDonald, but also former Test seamer Clint McKay who will be part of the coaching staff for the white-ball leg of the tour, joining Di Venuto and spin coach Sri Sriram. The revamped Australian support staff will also see former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori and ex Victoria and Melbourne Renegades assistant Andre Borovec starting their tenure as full-time assistant coaches in the two-Test series, beginning June 29. Borovec will also coach Australia A for their matches against Sri Lanka A prior to the two-match Test series.

"The great challenge for coaches and players is to manage your workload across the four years," McDonald had said after signing his four-year deal with Australia. "I'd like to think I have the coaching staff to step-up, and we can elevate certain coaches at different times to take on different tours and different challenges.

"While doing that it's only growing the depth of our coaching staff... coaches will get exposed along the journey to help out the workload which is quite significant for a head coach."