Former Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently in self-isolation. Warne, who is the head coach of ‘The Hundred’ team London Spirits, and another unnamed member of management team have gone into self-isolation. The spin legend is the head coach of the men’s team for the Lord’s-based franchise but he was forced to sit out Sunday’s (August 1) match after feeling unwell.
A club statement read: “London Spirit men’s head coach Shane Warne will be absent from today’s match against Southern Brave at Lord’s. After feeling unwell this morning, Shane returned a positive lateral flow test and will isolate from the squad and support staff whilst he awaits PCR results.
“A second member of the team management is self-isolating after also returning a positive test. No players have been impacted.” the statement added.
A lateral flow test returned positive and he is now awaiting the result of a PCR test. None of the Spirit playing squad has been affected as of now.
The 51-year-old former Australia leg-spinner, who took 708 wickets from 145 Tests between 1992 and 2007, is the second head coach in the men's competition to test positive for COVID-19 in the first 10 days of the Hundred.
Andy Flower, the Trent Rockets head coach, returned a positive test last weekend and has missed his side's last three fixtures, with Paul Franks stepping into the role. Steven Mullaney, who was deemed a close contact of Flower’s, is the only player in the competition to have been forced to self-isolate as things stand.
Warne’s Spirit side were winless in their first three Hundred games, with two defeats and a no-result. They play Southern Brave at Lord’s on Sunday.
David Ripley, the Northamptonshire head coach and one of the Spirit’s assistants, will act as head coach in Warne’s absence.
(with PTI inputs)
