Plunkett Shield 2020-21: Auckland’s Ben Lister becomes first COVID-19 substitute

Auckland fast bowler Ben Lister became the fist COVID-19 substitute during the 2020-21 edition of the Plunkett Shield, New Zealand’s domestic first-class tournament. The speedster replaced Mark Chapman before the match against Otago at the Eden Park in Auckland.

On Monday, October 19, Chapman felt ill, and subsequently, he underwent the coronavirus test. Thereafter, Lister was roped in and results of Chapman’s test are awaited. Since the game started a day after the other Plunkett Shield games, the replacement came before the game and not during the contest.

Back in June, the International Cricket Council (ICC) put forth a number of rules for the resumption of cricket in the pandemic situation. After international teams applied the protocols, the domestic teams have also started following the same.

Kiwis head coach lauds Mark Chapman for ‘doing the right thing’
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead, who was watching the game at the venue’s outer oval, reckoned that following the protocols is the aptest step a player can take in the trying times.

“I wasn’t aware until I got here this morning, that Mark Chapman had been feeling ill and had to get a COVID test. But from my perspective, it’s great that he’s not penalised for doing the right thing in what is obviously different times we face in the world,” Stead was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo.

“Just shows that we and cricket aren’t immune to that either, so following the right protocols is definitely the right thing to do,” the Black Caps’ coach added.

Lister had a decent day with the ball in hand after Auckland won the toss and put Otago to bat first. In 11 overs, he gave away 40 runs at an economy of 3.60 to go with one maiden. The 24-year-old pacer also accounted for Cam Hawkins’ wicket in the very first over of the encounter.

Otago were eventually shot out for 186 in 53.5 overs after a five-wicket haul for Kyle Jamieson. They were tottering at 33 for the loss of six wickets, but Michael Rippon took them to respectability, scoring 106 runs off 127 balls.

As far as Ben Lister is concerned, he made his first-class, List A and T20 debut back in November-December 2017 and has done reasonably well. In 56 matches, the Henderson-born youngster has 99 wickets with three five-wicket hauls to show for his efforts.