Australia head coach McDonald tests Covid-positive and was unable to travel out with his team for the tour of Sri Lanka on Wednesday after testing positive for Covid-19.
Australia’s month-long tour to Sri Lanka begins on June 7 with a T20I in Colombo, and it’s unlikely that the 40-year-old head coach would be available for the first match. This is the first time Australia has visited Sri Lanka in six years.
According to cricket.com.au, assistant coach Michael Di Venuto will lead the side for the first T20I after Australia head coach McDonald tests Covid-positive, with McDonald expected to be available for the second game.
McDonald was appointed to the position on a temporary basis for a tour of Pakistan in March, but this will be his first series as a full-time coach.
After Australia head coach McDonald tests Covid-positive, McDonald will be kept in isolation for seven days as Australia’s players prepare for the limited-overs portion of the tour, which begins next Tuesday in Colombo with a Twenty20 international.
Australia will play three Twenty20 Internationals, five One-Day Internationals, and two Tests in Galle to complete the three-format tour (June 29-July 3 and July 8-12).
McDonald thought his coaching staff would rise to the occasion.
“I’d like to think I’ve got the coaching staff in place to step up, and we can elevate various coaches at different times to take on different tours and 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,” added McDonald.