CWG 2022: Tahlia McGrath tests positive for Covid-19 but given thumbs up to play final

Australia Women all-rounder Tahlia McGrath has been tested positive for Covid-19 with mild symptoms. However, she was allowed to partake in the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal match against India on August 7, Sunday, after consultation with the team, match officials and health experts.

McGrath was also spotted in the stands, wearing an N95 mask while also distancing herself from the rest of her teammates. She also came out to the field to bat at number four in the first innings and was dismissed for two runs. Notably, McGrath played a crucial hand in the semifinal against New Zealand, scoring 34 runs with the bat and also picking up two wickets.

Tahlia McGrath keeps her distance from teammates after testing positive to COVID-19 pre-match.

She remains in Australia's XI, with a number of precautions in place #AUSvIND #B2022 pic.twitter.com/Sb8ih7AgTG

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 7, 2022

Both teams went unchanged into the final

“Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) can confirm that cricketer Tahlia McGrath has returned a positive test for Covid-19,” the statement reads. “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,” a statement from Commonwealth Games Australia read.

Speaking of the game, Australia captain Meg Lanning won the toss and elected to bat first. Star opening batter Alyssa Healy was dismissed by the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, Renuka Singh, for 7 runs off 12 balls in the third over. She was struck by a ball that swung into the middle-stump line, and India took it to the third umpire for a review after the LBW shout was turned down on the field.

Skipper Lanning was run out for 36 runs off 26 balls in the first ball of the 11th over, thanks to a brilliant piece of fielding by the Indian spinner Radha Yadav. Hence, Australia lost three wickets for 87 runs within 12 overs.

India Women Playing XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Taniya Bhatia (wk), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Meghna Singh, Radha Yadav, Renuka Singh

Australia Women Playing XI: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath, Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown