West Indies-Australia ODI suspended after positive Covid test emerges moments before play

The second ODI between West Indies and Australia was postponed moments before the first ball after a positive Covid test emerged from the West Indies camp to leave the remainder of this tour and upcoming series for both teams in doubt.

The toss had taken place and teams named - with Riley Meredith handed a debut - when the test result came through sending both squads, match officials and TV crew into isolation at the hotel.

"The second CG Insurance ODI between West Indies and Australia has been postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test result from a non-playing member of the West Indies staff," a CWI statement said. "This decision was taken after the toss at Kensington Oval once the result was known.

"The established COVID-19 protocols stipulate that all members of both teams and match officials will return immediately to the team hotel and will be re-tested later today. They will remain in isolation in their hotel rooms until their PCR-Test results are returned.

"A decision on when the match will be replayed will be made at a later date once all the test results are confirmed."

Johnny Grave, the Cricket West Indies CEO, said that it was hoped the results of the fresh round of tests would be known by Friday morning.

A Cricket Australia spokesman added: "The Australian squad has returned to the team hotel and is in in-room isolation. No further comment will be made at this stage."

The status of the current game, given the toss had taken place, remains to be confirmed. The match carries World Cup Super League points.

The events will put the remainder of this series in doubt with the final ODI scheduled to take place on Saturday and will also throw uncertainty over Australia heading to Bangladesh for the five-match T20I series which was confirmed yesterday.

After this series West Indies are due to face Pakistan in a five-match T20I series followed by two Tests. Pakistan arrived in Barbados, where the first two T20Is are scheduled to be played, on Wednesday after their tour of England.

West Indies have previously been impacted by Covid while playing with Hayden Walsh Jr testing positive on the tour of Bangladesh earlier in the year.

It is the first time Australia have been directly involved during the pandemic since cricket resumed. They toured England last year before hosting India in their home summer and then visiting New Zealand for T20Is. Their Test tour to South Africa in February was postponed due to concerns around Covid-19.

A number of players from both teams were involved in the IPL when it was suspended in May.