Australia’s decision to field a cricketer with covid-19 at the Commonwealth Games has sparked controversy and claims of hypocrisy given the country’s hard line on lockdowns during the pandemic – and their decision to deport Novak Djokovic over his vaccination status.
Tahlia McGrath was permitted to play at Edgbaston in Birmingham yesterday despite testing positive. She bowled and batted in the match and also took the catch that dismissed India’s star opener Shafali Verma as the Southern Stars took gold.
She batted at No4 without a mask before she was dismissed after scoring just two runs off four balls. McGrath then bowled two overs for 24 runs and also took a catch, when she held up her hands to warn her fellow players not to come and celebrate with her. But when they won the game, McGrath jumped into the huddle and hugged her teammates. Australian bowler Megan Schutt said afterwards: ‘If we get covid, so be it’.