Australia's Test captain Pat Cummins was allowed to leave the COVID-19 isolation in Adelaide and return home to Sydney on a single charter flight. He will complete his isolation at home before returning to the squad for ongoing Ashes 2021-22.

Cummins was ruled out of the second Ashes Test hours before its start on Thursday (December 16) after coming in close contact with a COVID-19 positive case. Australia are led by Steve Smith in his absence, and Travis Head is named as vice-captain.

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As per Agence France-Presse reports, Cummins was required to isolate for 7 days under South Australia state's strict bio-security rules, but now he has been allowed to go home to stay there until the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

"Under the plan approved by SA Health, he will self-drive from isolation and then, with the appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) and hygiene controls, take a single charter flight," Cricket Australia said.

"He will continue to observe all isolation requirements in New South Wales."

Cummins was dining at an Adelaide restaurant when a person at the nearby table was identified as a COVID-19 positive case. He immediately left the location and alerted the authorities. He had returned a negative RT-PCR test but was isolated as a safety measure.

The players are permitted to dine out in small groups under COVID-19 rules in place for the Ashes in Adelaide but they must avoid densely populated places.

Michael Neser came into the playing XI for the Day-Night Test match to replace Cummins and made his Test debut. 

(With AFP Inputs)