Second Ashes Test is hit by Covid chaos as two members of the media test positive
Second Ashes Test is hit by Covid chaos as two members of the media test positive, forcing BBC’s Test Match Special to go off air on the fourth day
Two media members tested positive ahead of day four of the second Ashes TestOne of the individuals was working with UK media at the Test in AdelaideThe BBC commentary box in the stadium was cleared out for Sunday’s play The BBC’s Test Match Special programme went off air for the fourth day action
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
(function (src, d, tag){
var s = d.createElement(tag), prev = d.getElementsByTagName(tag)[0];
s.src = src;
prev.parentNode.insertBefore(s, prev);
}(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/1.17.0/async_bundle–.js”, document, “script”));
<!–
DM.loadCSS(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/gunther-2159/video_bundle–.css”);
<!–
The Test Match Special commentary team were forced off air for the fourth day of the second Test when a Covid outbreak in Adelaide sent them into isolation.
Listeners to the iconic radio coverage in the UK had to make do with remote commentary from an Australian team in Perth as both the TMS crew and that of hosts ABC were refused entry into the Adelaide Oval.
The drama began when one of the TMS production team, along with a support staff member from Fox TV, tested positive before play. Covid rules are particularly strict in South Australia and all close contacts of the pair were told to stay away and isolate.
That left commentators Jonathan Agnew and Simon Mann, plus summarisers Steven Finn and Glenn McGrath and scorer Andy Zaltzman, out of action while a scratch Western Australian ABC team including former Australian captain Kim Hughes took to the airwaves.
But another member of the TMS team in Isa Guha was able to take her place in the Fox commentary box because she was able to take a speedy PCR test which came back negative.
Two members of the media at the second Ashes Test in Adelaide tested positive for Covid on Sunday
The BBC’s Test Match special, led to Jonathan Agnew, was forced to go off air as the UK broadcaster’s commentary area was cleared out
The others were awaiting their results last night before knowing if they can resume today and the nightmare scenario is if they are told by the South Australian health authorities to isolate for seven days which would have implications for the third Test.
But they were given hope by the suggestion the TMS person involved may have recorded a false positive and could be cleared to return for the last rites of the second Test.
This Ashes series has always been on a knife-edge because of Australia’s strict approach to Covid and the differing rules among states which saw Perth stripped of the final Test.
And Australia lost their captain for the second Test when Pat Cummins was deemed a close contact of a Covid victim and was told to isolate for seven days.
One of the individuals did an interview with England’s Dawid Malan (above), who was not deemed a close contact
He has since been given permission to take a private plane home to Sydney to prepare for the third Test in Melbourne on Boxing Day.
The developments will lead to tougher restrictions on both teams for the rest of the series, with players and support staff not being allowed to eat in restaurants nor sign autographs or pose for selfies with fans.
News of the first positive test came to light ahead of the fourth day’s play with the person concerned understood to have conducted an interview with England batter Dawid Malan on Saturday.
Malan was not deemed a close contact as the interview took place outside, was social distanced and the individual was wearing a mask.
