Australian Tahlia McGrath was allowed to play the final despite testing Covid-19 positive
Tahlia McGrath presented to the team management with mild symptoms on Sunday and came out Covid-19 positive after the test. She was named in the playing XI at the toss as the International Cricket Council (ICC) approved her participation.
Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed on Sunday that their key player Tahlia McGrath came out Covid-19 positive after the test ahead of Commonwealth Games 2022 gold medal final against India.
Tahlia McGrath presented to the team management with mild symptoms on Sunday and came out Covid-19 positive after the test. She was named in the playing XI at the toss as the International Cricket Council (ICC) approved her participation.
“CGA clinical staff have consulted with the Commonwealth Games Federation RACEG (Results Analysis Clinical Expert Group) team and match officials, and McGrath is taking part in today’s final against India,”
stated an official Cricket Australia release.
“In consultation with the CGF and the ICC, CGA and Cricket Australia medical staff have implemented a range of comprehensive protocols which will be observed throughout the game and for post-match activity, to minimize the risk of transmission to all players and officials,”
stated the release further.
“The CGA has maintained a comprehensive Covid-19 risk mitigation strategy for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, with testing protocols over and above those required by the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee,”
it added.
In the gold medal final between India and Australia, the latter won the toss and opted to bat first. It is important to note that the toss for the final game was delayed for almost 10-15 minutes.
McGrath was dismissed for 2 runs during Australia’s innings.
Harmanpreet Kaur played a crucial 65 runs knock but could not save India from a defeat as Australia sealed the final by nine runs to win the inaugural Commonwealth Games cricket gold medal.
Casing a total of 162, India lost Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma cheaply. Harmanpreet added 96 runs for the third wicket before Jemimah Rodrigues lost her wicket for 33.
The skipper and Pooja Vastrakar were dismissed on consecutive deliveries by Ashleigh Gardner, putting Australia back in control. After that, India lost wickets at regular intervals and bowled out on 152 in 19.3 overs.
Earlier, Beth Mooney’s 61 off 41 guided Australia to 161 for 8 in 20 overs.
India had defeated England by 4 runs in the semi-final while Australia have gotten the better of New Zealand.
Australia 161 for 8 (Mooney 61, Lanning 36, Gardener 25, Renuka 2-25, Rana 2-38) beat India 152 (Harmanpreet 65, Rodrigues 33, Gardner 3-16, Schutt 2-27) by nine runs.