The
news
comes
on
the
morning
of
the
first
day
of
the
pink-ball
Test
at
Adelaide
Oval,
with
Queensland
fast
bowler
Michael
Neser
confirmed
to
replace
Cummins
in
the
XI
for
his
debut
on
Thursday.
Former
skipper
Steve
Smith
will
captain
Australia
in
the
absence
of
Cummins
in
the
day-night
Test
in
Adelaide.
Cummins
was
dining
at
a
restaurant
on
Tuesday
and
was
sat
nearby
to
someone
who
has
since
been
confirmed
as
a
positive
coronavirus
case.
The
star
paceman
did
not
breach
any
biosecurity
protocols
and
isolated
as
soon
as
he
became
aware
of
the
situation.
Cummins
has
since
had
a
PCR
test,
which
produced
a
negative
result.
However,
Cummins
has
been
confirmed
as
a
close
contact
by
South
Australia
Health
and
will
be
required
to
isolate
for
seven
days,
ruling
him
out
of
the
second
showdown
with
rivals
England.
Cricket
Australia
(CA)
said
it
anticipated
Cummins
will
be
available
to
play
in
the
Boxing
Day
Test
at
the
MCG
in
Melbourne.
“Cummins
is
understandably
very
disappointed
not
to
be
able
to
captain
Australia
for
the
day-night
Test
in
Adelaide,”
CA
said
in
a
statement.
The
28-year-old
fast
bowler
had
led
Australia
to
a
nine-wicket
victory
in
the
Ashes
opener
as
skipper
in
Brisbane,
after
taking
over
from
Tim
Paine.
Smith’s
deputising
marks
the
first
time
he
will
have
captained
his
country
since
the
controversial
2018
sandpaper-gate
Test
match
in
Cape
Town,
which
led
to
his
dismissal
as
skipper
and
12-month
suspension.
Australia
may
have
dodged
a
further
bullet,
revealing
Mitchell
Starc
and
Nathan
Lyon
were
also
dining
at
the
same
restaurant
but
at
a
separate
table
outdoors.
Both
have
been
deemed
casual
contacts
by
SA
Health
and
are
free
to
play.
