Cruel blow for Glenn McGrath as he faces missing ‘pink’ test in honour of his late wife – after the cricket legend catches Covid
- Australian cricket legend tests positive to Covid-19 days out from Pink Test
- Annual January test at the SCG is in honour of Glenn McGrath’s late wife Jane
- McGrath to miss first two days of fourth Ashes Test but hopes to be there Friday
Australian cricket great Glenn McGrath will miss the start of the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney after testing positive to Covid.
The legendary fast bowler is the face of the annual Pink Test played at the SCG every January in honour of his late first wife Jane, who lost her hard-fought battle with breast cancer in 2008.
McGrath is recovering at home and will miss the first two days of the Test between Australia and England, which gets underway on Wednesday.
He hopes to return a negative test result by Friday so he can attend day three of the Test known as Jane McGrath Day, when the entire SCG is decked out in pink for the McGrath Foundation.
Glenn McGrath has tested positive to Covid hours after he shared a sweet family snap posing with wife Sara and children Hollie (left), James (right) and Madison (front) in lead up to the Pink Test
‘Glenn has had a PCR test which unfortunately returned a positive result,’ McGrath Foundation chief executive Holly Masters said.
‘We wish Glenn and his family good health.
‘We are grateful to our partners at Cricket Australia and the SCG.
‘As well as the England cricket team and the broadcasters for their ongoing support for the Pink Test and look forward to still making this the ‘pinkest’ Ashes.’
The news comes a day after McGrath uploaded a family snap with his wife Sara and three children dressed in pink in lead up to the fourth Test.
‘Wishing everyone a happy, healthy & prosperous 2022 from our family to yours,’
The McGrath Foundation charity was founded by the cricketer and his first wife Jane in 2005, following her initial diagnosis and recovery from breast cancer.
The Pink Test at the SCG every January is in honour of Glenn McGrath’s first wife Jane (right), who lost her breast cancer battle in 2008
The third day of the Pink Test at the SCG each year is known as Jane McGrath Day
The mum-of-two lost her battle three years later, aged 42 following surgery complications. She was first diagnosed 11 years earlier.
Since then, the third day of the annual Pink Test in Sydney has been renamed Jane McGrath Day to raise money and awareness for the charity.
Australian Test batsman Travis Head will also miss the fourth Test and remains in isolation in Melbourne after he tested positive on Friday.
England head coach Chris Silverwood will also miss the Test after contracting the virus, along with fast-bowling coach Jon Lewis, spin coach Jeetan Patel and strength and conditioning coach Darren Veness.
England’s preparations for the fourth Test were disrupted by more Covid chaos on Sunday when local club net bowlers were abruptly removed from a training session.
Covid has also caused chaos among Channel Seven’s commentary team after Mel McLaughlin confirmed she tested positive during last week’s Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Australia has already retained the Ashes and leads the series 3-0.
Glenn McGrath (pictured at the 2020 Pink Test) hopes to attend day three on Friday
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