SL vs AUS | 1st Test | Angelo Mathews tested positive for COVID-19

Sri Lankan batter Angelo Mathews has tested positive for COVID-19. Oshada Fernando will come in his place as COVID-19 replacement for the remainder of the first Test against Australia.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed that the veteran all-rounder has been ruled out of the remainder of the game on the third day morning just prior to the start of the play.

SLC says he has since been isolated from other team members

"Angelo Mathews tested positive for COVID-19. He was found to be positive during a Rapid Anti-Gen Test Conducted on the player. The test was done as the player was feeling unwell. He has been isolated from the rest of the team members and is following covid-19 protocols. Oshada Fernando will come into the playing XI in place of Mathews as a Covid replacement," said Sri Lanka Cricket in an official release.

It is a major blow for the hosts as they're already lagging behind the visitors after giving 109 runs lead in the first innings after being bowled out for 212 in their first innings. Mathews scored 39 off 71 balls with the help of three boundaries. He was looking set for a big one before he was dismissed by Australia's ace spinner, Nathan Lyon. 

Mathews has been in brilliant form with the bat as he was the leading run-scorer in the Test series against Bangladesh with 344 runs in two matches while registering his personal best score of 199.

Fernando has played 15 Tests, averaging 36, and has one hundred to his name. The right-handed batter's last appearance came against Bangladesh. He averages 44.33 in the last two Tests he played. In the absence of Mathews, he's expected to be slotted at number 4 in the playing eleven.