Will Sutherland tests positive for Covid-19 but Sheffield Shield will start Saturday

Will Sutherland has been confirmed as having tested positive for Covid-19 but the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Victoria will begin on Saturday at the SCG providing all the other results come back negative.

Sutherland, who is experiencing mild symptoms, will be required to isolate for 10 days at the team hotel. However, other Victoria players have only been deemed casual contacts with the remaining test results due overnight. Ten have already come back negative and if the final six follow the game has been ticked off to begin. The game will remain a four-day fixture extending to Tuesday.

"Will Sutherland is currently self-isolating and experiencing minor symptoms after testing positive. He is in good spirits and in regular contact with Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia staff," Dr John Orchard, Cricket Australia's Chief Medical Officer, said. "We are satisfied the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Victoria can begin safely tomorrow.

"While it is impossible to remove all risk from this situation, Will was relatively non-infectious during his periods of interaction with members of the Victorian team. As such, and due to their compliance with biosecurity protocols, all members of the Victorian squad have been deemed casual contacts. They will be able to take the field at the SCG tomorrow subject to receiving negative results."

The match was postponed less than an hour before the toss was due to take place on Friday following the emergence of Sutherland's initial result which required further analysis. A second PCR test confirmed it was positive.

It is the first positive Covid case within the professional game in Australia and comes as the country moves towards living with the virus with vaccination rates increasing.

Both squads are fully vaccinated with cricket having become the first sport to complete full dosage at domestic level.

Earlier this season the Sheffield Shield match between Queensland and Tasmania in Brisbane was called off on the morning of the game after community cases in the city promoted Tasmania to return home in case the border was closed.

This was to be the third meeting between the sides this season with the states restricted to playing themselves due to border restrictions.

The previous two matches have been played under various biosecure conditions in order to protect the Test players who were part of those games.