McDonald to miss first game after testing positive for Covid-19

The Australian side has been hit with a major setback right before their tour of Sri Lanka as head coach Andrew McDonald has tested positive for Covid and will not travel with the team.

However, all is not lost as the coach is expected to make a recovery soon after being put into isolation, as per reports from Cricket Australia, McDonald is expected to join the Australian team before the start of the second T20I on June 8.

Assistant coach Michael Di Venuto is expected to take charge of the side in his absence, he will be supported by spin coach S Sriram and support staff member Clint McKay. 

This is McDonald’s first gig after being appointed as the full-time coach for the national side. While he was a part of the team as the interim head coach during the tour of Pakistan, this will technically be his first official tour.

The tour is expected to start on the 7th of June with the first two games taking place at Colombo before the tour moves to Pallekele.

This will likely be a challenge for the side as they are to miss the services of red-ball skipper Pat Cummins and spinner Adam Zampa who is on paternity leave.