Ashes 2021-22: Member of Australian broadcaster Channel 7 tests COVID-19 positive during Boxing Day Test

A member of Australian television broadcaster, Channel 7, tested positive for COVID-19 during the ongoing Boxing Day Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Subsequently, on the second day’s play, the broadcaster had to fully replace their commentary team with the likes of Ian Botham and Ricky Ponting going into isolation.

Lewis Martin, the Seven Network Head of Sport, put forth the development and also said that the members of the team won’t be taking part in commentary until they return negative RT-PCR tests.

“The Seven Network confirms it is responding after a member of staff working on the Ashes broadcast at the MCG tested positive to Covid-19 on Sunday night. The staff member was asymptomatic at the time of testing and has been in self-isolation since the moment the positive result was returned,” Martin was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo.

“Seven is activating its Covid measures to ensure the health and safety of all staff, as well as the broader community, and is working in line with all relevant guidelines and regulations. We are working closely with the MCG operational team and Cricket Australia,” he stated.

“Just as the broader community is experiencing, we have Covid response scenarios in place to ensure the impact on Seven’s broadcast is limited,” Martin added. Seven members of the Big Bash League’s commentary team have been roped in as replacements.

Members of England touring party in the grip of COVID-19

Meanwhile, four members of the England touring party contracted the coronavirus on day two of the Melbourne Test. Two members of the support staff and two of their family members tested positive for coronavirus. However, the development hasn’t played spoilsport and the game has continued as per schedule.

The second day’s play was delayed by 30 minutes on Monday after the England squad underwent COVID-19 testing following the incident. Later after the day’s play, they will have to go through another round of testing. The Australian players haven’t faced any troubles.

On Boxing Day, as many as 1999 new coronavirus cases emerged in Victoria as per the Victorian government. However, Nick Hockley, the Cricket Australia CEO, didn’t seem worried and sounded confident for the series to go ahead without any interruption.