Breaking! Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald tests positive for Covid-19

In recent developments, Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald has tested positive for Covid-19. He was unable to travel out with his team on Wednesday for their tour to Sri Lanka. He will have to undergo a week's isolation. Australia's all-format series against Sri Lanka begins on the 7th of June.

It has been reported that McDonald will not be able to join the team in time for the first T20i match. He will be available to the team from the second match. In his absence, assistant coach Michael Di Venuto will run the team.

"Michael Di Venuto will coach the Australian men’s T20 side before Andrew McDonald re-joins the squad at the conclusion of seven days isolation," read Cricket Australia's statement.

McDonald believed his coaching staff would step up. He said this situation will give their staff a bit more depth. "I’d like to think I have the coaching staff to step up, and we can elevate certain coaches at different times to take on different tours and different challenges," he said as quoted by News 18.

"While doing that it’s only growing the depth of our coaching staff… coaches will get exposed along the journey to help out the workload which is quite significant for a head coach," he added.

Australia tour of Sri Lanka schedule

In the meantime, the series will go under as scheduled. There were many speculations about the fate of the series due to the economic crisis in Sri Lanka. "There is no disruption in the schedule and the white ball games will be night or day-night affairs," SLC secretary Mohan de Silva told Cricbuzz.

The series comprises three T20i games, five ODI games, and two Test matches. The first two T20i will be played in Colombo, while the third match and the first two One-Day Internationals will be played in Pallekele. The teams will return to Colombo for the next three ODI's. Galle will host both the Test matches.