Renshaw called up after COVID hits Aussie camp

Australia's touring party in Pakistan has been hit with a COVID outbreak on the eve of the opening ODI in Lahore.

Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis has been isolated from the group after returning a positive test and will subsequently miss the entire three-match ODI series against Pakistan while he is isolated in his room for five-days.

Queensland batter Matthew Renshaw, who had been on standby for the Test series, has been called up as cover and this morning flew out for Pakistan.

Renshaw will need to serve three days of hotel room isolation after arriving, meaning he will only be available for selection for the third ODI and T20.

If selected it would mark a limited-overs international debut for the Adelaide Strikers batter who played 11 Tests between 2016 and 2018.

A CA spokesperson said the remainder of the Australian squad had returned negative results following routine daily testing.

But there will be some concern further players could test positive in the coming days.

Image Id: E3A2F871404B499CA950FD3667DC2FA9 Image Caption: Marnus Labuschagne and Josh Inglis at the team hotel on Sunday // cricket.com.au

Inglis, while wearing a facemask, was seen in close proximity with fellow squad members during a headshot session at the team hotel on Sunday afternoon.

The Western Australian tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday morning.

Test squad member Marcus Harris has also been confirmed to have tested positive to COVID-19 on his return to Australia, and his participation in this week's Marsh Sheffield Shield final is now unclear.

Cricket Victoria confirmed the 29-year-old – who didn't play during the three Test series – returned a positive rapid antigen test result on Monday but will be given every opportunity to play in the decider, which begins on Thursday at the WACA.

"Marcus Harris is on standby to travel to Perth to join up with the squad. He will continue to test over the next two days to confirm whether he is able to travel, subject to a negative result," they said in a statement.

The rest of the Victorian squad, which includes Ashes hero Scott Boland, who also flew back from Pakistan over the weekend, will depart Melbourne for Perth today.

"That's thrown a spanner into the works, it hasn't been smooth sailing for us," Victoria coach Chris Rogers told RSN Radio this morning.

"We're hoping that he'll test negative in the meantime so he'll still be able to play by Thursday, but obviously that will be touch and go."

Australia's inexperienced touring party had already been further depleted after T20 World Cup hero Mitch Marsh was struck down by a hip flexor injury.

Marsh suffered the setback during a training drill on Monday and he has been sent for scans.

Captain Aaron Finch expects Marsh to miss the entire three-match ODI series, with Cam Green to fill the void.

Marsh's injury comes at a bad time, given that stars Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and David Warner are all being rested from the white-ball component of the Pakistan tour.

Steve Smith was ruled out at the weekend due to an elbow injury, while Glenn Maxwell is another big name that is missing.

"I don't think he'll be available for this series based on how he was feeling (Sunday)," Finch said of Marsh.

"He sustained that (Sunday) in a fielding drill. It was a high intensity, lateral movement drill. 

"He bent down to pick it up one-handed and went to throw and felt a twinge in his hip flexor."

Marsh has been one of Australia's best white-ball players in recent times, but his absence has opened the door for Green to showcase his talent.

Green is flourishing on the Test arena, but his one and only ODI appearance came in December, 2020 when he scored 21 off 27 balls and took 0-27 off four overs in a 13-run loss to India.

Qantas Tour of Pakistan 2022

First Test: Match drawn

March 12-16: Match drawn

March 21-25: Australia win by 115 runs

Pakistan ODI and T20 squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique*, Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq*, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Zahid Mahmood, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Saud Shakeel*, Shaheen Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir (*ODIs only)

Australia ODI and T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Adam Zampa

March 29: First ODI, Lahore

March 31: Second ODI, Lahore

April 2: Third ODI, Lahore

April 5: Only T20I, Lahore

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports