Australia’s premier all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner has been tested positive for COVID-19 on the eve of the ICC ODI Women’s World Cup 2022. The Australian cricket team suffered a major setback as the Cricket Board, on Thursday, confirmed that the star all-rounder has returned from a Covid positive RAT while his PCR test in and after Christchurch was also positive.
The 24-year-old all-rounder is set to miss the first two matches of Australia’s World Cup campaign against England and Pakistan as she will be in Christchurch and quarantined for 10 days under ICC and New Zealand government health regulations.
“All remaining Australian players and support staff have tested negative following the subsequent RAT,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.
“(They) will go ahead with current plans to travel to Hamilton this evening ahead of the opening match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup against England on Saturday.”
Cricket Australia also confirmed that chief selector Shaun Flagler will also be in Christchurch while Gardner is in isolation.
Australia will enter the 12th edition of the one-day international tournament as six-time champions, including only three defeats since the last World Cup in 2017.
This included a world-record 26-match winning streak that ended only in September last year and a recent series win over World Cup champions England in the Women’s Ashes.
Captain Meg Lanning attributed Australia’s success to the depth of the team, describing how rising stars such as Tahlia McGrath and Darcy Brown contributed to Ashes victories along with legends Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy.
“The biggest thing for us over the years is that we haven’t relied on one or two players, we have some good depth in our team,” she said.
“You need different players at times to step up and the depth we’ve got is something we need in this World Cup.”
Australia Team: Meg Lanning (C), Rachel Haynes (VC), Darcy Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashley Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda- Jade Wellington. Travel stores: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne
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