Renshaw stood apart from teammates during the national anthem after feeling unwell and was then seen sitting away from the dugout on the edge of the boundary.
“Australian batsman Matthew Renshaw reported feeling unwell shortly before playing in the third Test against South Africa in Sydney and was withdrawn from the squad. Renshaw has returned a positive RAT test. He will take part in the match. Will continue to take,” said a CA spokesperson.
On the eve of the Test, Pat Cummins had spoken about how this was a more normal summer after two years of various restrictions. “I still don’t know how we don’t have Covid on our team yet, now that I think about it,” he said.
Renshaw, playing his first Test since 2018, was listed to bat at No.6 in Sydney as Australia selected against five specialist bowlers for the final Test.
Instead they have fielded just two frontline pacers, Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, along with two spinners in Ashton Agar and Nathan Lyon.
During the 2018–19 series against Pakistan in the UAE, Renshaw was in line for a place in the team before being injured in a warm-up match.