Wellington:Ben Lister, Auckland medium pacer, on Tuesday became the first Covid-19 substitute in cricket, replacing the left-handed batsman, Mark Chapman, in the ongoing Plunket Shield first-class cricket championship game against Otago.
Chapman, who has played six ODIs and 24 T20Is for New Zealand, reportedly felt sick on Monday following which he underwent a COVID-19 test, with Lister being named as replacement at least until the result of the test comes out.
Lister, took 1/40 in the first innings. Chapman can come into the XI if his tests are cleared.
In June this year, the ICC had cleared changes to playing conditions to allow substitutes in Test cricket if a player showed symptoms of the virus. Since then, domestic tournaments too have adapted the guidelines related to Covid substitutes.
Gary Stead, New Zealand coach, who was watching the game, said, "From my perspective, it's great that he (Chapman) is not penalised for doing the right thing in what is obviously different times we face in the world.''
"Just shows that we and cricket aren't immune to that either, so following the right protocols is definitely the right thing to do," he added.(UNI)