Problems continue to mount for the Australian cricket team ahead of their upcoming ODI series in Pakistan. Their already depleted squad has been further affected, with wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis testing positive for Covid-19 on Monday.
Inglis, who was primed to open the innings alongside skipper Aaron Finch, will not feature in the first couple of ODIs as he is required to isolate for five days. Confirming the development via an official statement, Cricket Australia said:
"The remainder of the squad returned negative results following routine daily testing."
The development comes after Australia were dealt with another body blow on Monday when a hip injury ruled all-rounder Mitchell Marsh out of the first ODI. Additionally, the West Australian is likely to miss the entire series.
CA confirmed the same, stating that Marsh had suffered a 'low-grade hip flexor strain'.
"Marsh will be managed clinically with a view to potentially returning to play later in the series," the statement stated.
The dual body blows have further depleted Australia's resources, which are already without the services of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, David Warner and Josh Hazlewood.
While the quartet has been rested, Steve Smith and Kane Richardson have also been ruled out due to their respective injuries.
"It was unfortunate that with (Smith's) elbow, it just keeps flaring up. That's a reflection of a guy who's got everything that he can out of himself over the last couple of years and has batted so much that that is probably an injury that just needs to be monitored over and over," said Aaron Finch.
"In terms of his role within the side, I think that we saw a really flexible role that he's played over the last couple of years when he's played T20 cricket, he's batted at three and done a really good job. He's batted in the middle and done a really good job as well and got us some really important runs. So, I'm confident that we know what we're going to get every day that he turns up," he added.
Also, fellow Western Australian all-rounder Cameron Green is expected to replace Marsh in the playing XI, while Travis Head is expected to open the innings in the absence of Warner and Inglis.
The three-match ODI series will get underway in Lahore from March 29.