Captain Joe Root suffered a stomach injury during practice on the fourth day of the second Ashes Test on Sunday and dealt another blow to the struggling England side.
The visitors are trying their best to save the clash in Adelaide after being bowled out for 236 in the first innings in reply to Australia’s 473 for nine.
Australia captain Steve Smith opted not to enforce the follow-on and his team tried to take an unassailable lead with 45 runs for one.
But Root, the world’s leading Test batsman, was not on the field.
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An England team spokesman said: “Joe Root will not be on the field at the start of the game today because of a stomach injury during a throw-down in practice before the game.”
“He is currently being evaluated by the England medical team.”
Root scored 62 in the first innings before he and David Malan (80) were dismissed, beginning a batting collapse that saw them all out for 236 for two at 150.
Day four was going on in the midst of another Covid-19 scare after a member of the media tested positive for the virus.
“In line with our prior plan, we are undertaking a deep-cleaning of the relevant areas and providing alternative facilities to the relevant authorities as required,” the Adelaide Oval said in a statement.
This comes just days after Australian captain Pat Cummins was ruled out of Tests after he was deemed a close contact with a coronavirus case.
He was initially ordered to isolate for seven days in his hotel room, but was later allowed to return home on a private charter flight to Sydney.
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