New Zealand player Ben Lister has been named as the first official COVID-19 substitute in cricket.
Last June, the International Cricket Council (ICC) ratified the use of COVID-19 substitutes for Test matches. This may be used in cases where a player can call-in for a substitute upon developing COVID-19 symptoms on or before a Test match. Soon after, domestic tournaments had also adapted to these guidelines. Just recently, Ben Lister has been officially named as the first COVID-19 substitute.
English player Lister has been signed as a replacement for Mark Chapman in Auckland prior to their match against Otago in the upcoming Plunket Shield games. Lister has been called in as a substitute as Chapman had reported that he had been feeling ill on Monday. With that, he has been required to undergo a COVID-19 test, letting Lister take his place in the XI while the results are not yet out.
As someone who watches the game, New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has also spoken about how he is pleased that Chapman has not been penalised. He says, ‘I wasn't aware until I got here this morning, that Mark Chapman had been feeling ill and had to get a COVID test. But from my perspective, it’s great that he’s not penalised for doing the right thing in what is obviously different times we face in the world'.
‘Just shows that we and cricket aren't immune to that either, so following the right protocols is definitely the right thing to do’, he added.
In that said match against Otago in which Auckland had won, the 24-year-old had managed to take one wicket in the first inning as Otago got bowled out for 186 in 53.5 overs. To further understand how cricket is played, visit Betwala.
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