Australian fast bowler Kane Richardson tests negative for coronavirus

Australian fast bowler Kane Richardson was on Friday cleared of coronavirus after his tests returned negative, Cricket Australia said.

The right-arm pacer, who returned with the Australian team from South Africa earlier this week, had informed the medical staff of a sore throat on Thursday and was then sent for a precautionery COVID-19 testing.

However, Richardson's coronavirus test returned negative.

"Kane Richardson has been cleared of contracting coronavirus after he returned a negative result to COVID-19 testing today," cricket.com.au reported.

Earlier, a Cricket Australia spokesperson had said that the national board was following the protocols laid by the government and had thus quarantined Richardson.

"Our medical staff are treating this as a typical throat infection but we are following Australian Government protocols that require us to keep Kane away from other members of the squad and perform the appropriate tests given he has returned from international travel in the last 14 days," a Cricket Australia spokesperson was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

"Once we receive the results of the tests and Kane recovers in the next few days we expect he will re-join the team. We will not be making further comment until something changes."

The 29-year-old was replaced by Sean Abbott in the squad for the first one-dayer against New Zealand.

Richardson was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2020 auctions.