Bunbury’s Sam Whiteman pulled from Sydney Thunder side after late COVID contact scare

Cricket Australia has been forced to deal with another COVID shock, this time involving a Bunbury star playing in the Big Bash League. Sam Whiteman was a late withdrawal from the Sydney Thunder’s clash with Brisbane on Monday night amid fears he was a close contact of a positive case. It comes after Australian captain Pat Cummins was pulled from the second Ashes test against England, which finished on Monday, for the same reason. The Thunder said Whiteman reported the potential contact immediately and recorded two negative tests while investigations into the interaction continue. He is now being quarantined from his teammates. “Sam Whiteman has been ruled out from today’s Big Bash League match against Brisbane Heat at the GABBA as a precautionary measure while the club investigates whether he is a potential close contact with someone who has tested positive to COVID,” the Thunder said in a statement on Monday. “Upon learning yesterday of the possibility of his being a COVID-19 contact, Whiteman immediately reported his situation to Thunder team management, who followed COVID protocols.” Without him, the Thunder went on to record their second victory over the season, with English import Sam Billings’ 64 off just 27 balls blasting them to a 53-run win. Whiteman joined the club from the Perth Scorchers in an 11th hour move before the BBL season started. It ended a seven-year stint for him at the club, which included three championships. But the Colts Cricket Club product’s season was faltering early before its latest hiccup, managing just 25 runs through his first five games.