Cricket fans slam ‘farcical’ situation that’s forced Pat Cummins out of second Ashes Test
- Fans slam decision for captain Pat Cummins to stand down from Adelaide Test
- Cummins deemed a close contact of a positive person at an Adelaide restaurant
- He was due to captain Australia for only the second time in the day-night Test
Australians have reacted with shock and disbelief at the decision to stand down Test captain Pat Cummins after he was identified as a close contact of a positive Covid case.
Cricket Australia announced on Thursday that Cummins had been identified as a close contact after dining adjacent to a person who received a positive test result while out at dinner in Adelaide on Wednesday evening.
‘As a consequence, Cummins is unavailable to play in the second Vodafone men’s Ashes Test match in Adelaide, starting today,’ the statement read.
Cummins expressed his disappointment via Twitter, saying he was ‘gutted’ to miss the Test match.
‘Super frustrating but Covid has thrown us all some curve balls over the last couple of years.’
Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins expressed his disappointment via Twitter, saying he was ‘gutted’ to miss the Test match after he was deemed a close contact of a positive Covid case in Adelaide
Sports commentators and fans were outraged by the decision, given Cummins subsequently had a PCR test and tested negative for the virus.
‘Can the politicians/medical officers please get this message out, tell everyone to calm down, get on with living life normally and get the rock in P.Cummins’ hand,’ tweeted commentator Daniel Garb.
‘We got vaxxed for that reason.’
On Melbourne’s 3AW, host Dee Dee Dunleavy described Cricket Australia’s decision as a ‘farce’.
‘He’s not a close contact, he’s a casual contact,’ she claimed.
‘He has tested negative.
‘We keep being told “let’s move on with our lives” and our vaccination rates are fantastic … it’s just a farce.’
Australian captain Pat Cummins (left) with team-mates Nathan Lyon (right) and Mitchell Starc (centre) sit at cafe in Adelaide on Tuesday, before Cummins was rule out of the second Test as a close contact of a Covid case
Steve Smith was named to captain the team in Cummins’ absence, a controversial decision in itself given Smith stood down as captain after the sandpaper-gate incident on the team’s 2018 tour of South Africa.
‘Makes no sense. Tested negative. These rules only incentivise people not to be honest and follow rules. Ludicrous,’ tweeted cricket fan Jarrod underneath Cricket Australia’s post about Cummins’ missing the Test.
‘Enough of this nonsense. Even fair-minded people who have supported prudent health measures a losing patience with ludicrous policies such as quarantine requirement after a negative result.’
‘So a man who has a negative test, is vaccinated and works amongst people who are all double vaccinated is forced to withdraw from his work,’ fan David Robertson tweeted.
‘I have been trying to defend Australia from charges of madness but things like this make it really difficult. You are ridiculous SA!’
Test players Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon dined at the same restaurant as Cummins but at a separate table outdoors. They were deemed casual contacts and are free to play in the Test match.
Cummins is expected to be available for the third Test in Melbourne beginning on Boxing Day, December 26.
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