Auckland Seamer Ben Lister Becomes 1st Ever Covid-19 Substitute In Cricket History

Lister attained the unique record of becoming the first ever Covid-19 replacement in cricketing history when he came onto the playing field to replace Mark Chapman in the Auckland team's Playing XI for the domestic Plunket Shield fixture.

Ben Lister

New Zealand's first class cricketer Ben Lister registered his name in the cricketing almanacs forever by becoming the first ever coronavirus replacement in the history of the sport. Lister attained this unique feat when he came onto the playing field to replace Mark Chapman in the Auckland team's Playing XI for the domestic Plunket Shield fixture. Chapman Withdraws From Plunket Shield Fixture Due To Bad Health Chapman, whose name was announced in the Auckland team for their Plunket Shield game against Otago at Eden Park's Outer Oval, had to pull out from the fixture owing to not keeping good health. His name was withdrawn later on from the match, pending the outcome of a COVID-19 test. The 26-year-old Chapman , who has played for the 'Black Caps' in  limited overs cricket, can rejoin the game if his test result comes back negative. Lister Named Covid-19 Substitute Till Chapman's Coronavirus Test Results Are Declared Lister, who has played 18 first class games, was named as the replacement until Chapman's test results are known. "Ollie Pringle makes his First-Class debut becoming No. 524. Ben Lister starts as Covid-19 replacement with Mark Chapman awaiting test results after feeling ill yesterday," Auckland Cricket tweeted.

TEAM NEWS | Ollie Pringle makes his First-Class debut becoming No. 5⃣2⃣4⃣.

Ben Lister starts as Covid-19 replacement with Mark Chapman awaiting test results after feeling ill yesterday. pic.twitter.com/ydc3gfZAOt — Auckland Cricket (@aucklandcricket) October 19, 2020

“I wasn't aware until today that Mark Chapman had been feeling ill and had to go get a COVID test,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead, told Reuters. “I'm pleased that he (Chapman) has not been penalised for doing the right thing. “It's obviously different times we face in the world now. I think it shows that we in cricket aren't immune to any of that either so following the right protocols is definitely the right thing to do.” The International Cricket Council approved rule changes that allow players to be replaced if they are feeling unwell or display COVID-19 symptoms and then return to the game if tests are negative.