"Kane Richardson test has come back negative and he is on his way to the ground," the statement read. The three-match series against NZ, to be played in Sydney on Friday and Sunday, and in Hobart next Friday, will go ahead in empty stadiums. Fans can obtain refunds for all three matches from Ticketek. Remaining matches in the Sheffield Shield are unaffected at this stage. CA made the decision before the federal government announced all non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people would be banned from Monday. The national women's team's tour of South Africa has been postponed with no decisions yet on the men's Twenty20 tour of New Zealand and the Test series in Bangladesh in June. Meg Lanning's world champion side had been due to fly out to South Africa on the weekend for six ODIs and T20s. Australian openers David Warner and Aaron Finch walk out to bat at an empty SCG on Friday against New Zealand. Credit:AAP Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts described the governing body's reaction to the global pandemic as "well-balanced" and defended the decision to play last Sunday's women's Twenty20 World Cup final before a packed MCG. A spectator at the match has since tested positive to coronavirus.

Aaron Finch's side is being told by CA not to shake hands with their opponents and will also be briefed about shining the ball with saliva and other bodily fluids. CA's coronavirus task group spoke to Finch's team on Thursday night and were told of players' concerns about playing in front of a crowd. "The feeling from the men's team was there was some apprehension based on the experience of Sunday night, partly, and the uncertainty of the situation and the developments around the world," Roberts said on Friday. "The safety of our players is paramount. We've offered all our people the opportunity to work from places where they feel most safe, like most employers have around Australia and no doubt other parts of the world. Kane Richardson has been isolated from teammates after feeling unwell. Credit:AP

"And it was only right we afforded the same flexibility to our players and worked through that with them. "They're comfortable to play the matches. They're looking forward to taking on NZ this afternoon and they're feeling safe by virtue of playing in unusual situation of empty stadia but the situation that enables them to go about their business on the field and inspire Australians with the bat and ball this afternoon." Australia's players appear likely to follow the practice of not shaking hands. The England, India and South Africa men's teams have said they will not be shaking hands, while the Pakistan Cricket Board has advised players and staff involved in their Twenty20 league to do likewise. "We're briefing players on changing some of the standard on-field behaviours such as not shaking hands," Roberts said. "Obviously sharing the same sentiments that you feel when you do shake hands with someone to make sure players keep a bit of distance from each other."

Roberts said it was the "right thing to do" to play the women's T20 World Cup final, as the situation has changed markedly since Sunday night. Unlike Australia's major football codes, the home cricket season is almost over, limiting the economic impact of the crisis on the sport. The CA board made the announcements on Friday after being told of recommendations by the coronavirus working group the night before. "We've taken what we believe is a well-balanced decision. We obviously experienced last Sunday night that a member of the crowd at the women's T20 World Cup, was later diagnosed with coronavirus, and it's important that we learn from that," Roberts said. "What we've learned from that, the decision we've made, is to go ahead with these ODIs today and on Sunday and next week, but they'll be played without crowds in attendance. We think it would've been excessive to cancel the matches.

"Had we gone ahead as planned, we think that would've been a failure to learn from what we experienced last Sunday. So we're confident that in a situation that's not ideal, we've made a well-balanced decision." Australian grand prix The grand prix has been cancelled following the withdrawal of the McLaren team after a positive coronavirus test. The Victorian government had earlier closed it to spectators. NRL The NRL will decide this afternoon whether to close stadiums.

Super Rugby The Jaguares and Highlanders will play their round seven match in an empty stadium in Buenos Aires on Saturday. While it is the only game affected this weekend, SANZAAR conceded the likelihood was high of further impacts. Changes are also likely for the Jaguares’ upcoming home matches against the Stormers on March 21 and Rebels on April 4. Japanese side the Sunwolves are already marooned in Australia after their home fixtures against Australian and New Zealand teams were moved to the southern hemisphere. "Super Rugby is an international cross-border competition and with the global outbreak of the coronavirus in recent weeks we always knew that unfortunately at some stage there would be an effect on the tournament,” SANZAAR boss Andy Marinos said.

Loading Soccer The Matildas' friendly against the world champion US side scheduled for April has been cancelled. FFA said in a statement: "FFA acknowledges the decision and, like US Soccer, is committed to putting the health and welfare of its players, staff, and fans first at all times. FFA will work with US Soccer to reschedule the match in the future." The Socceroos' qualification matches for the 2022 World Cup have been delayed until later in the year. Matildas star Caitlin Foord has been isolated at the insistence of her club, Arsenal, upon returning from Australia's successful Olympic qualifier in Vietnam. The Serie A competition in Italy has been suspended until at least April 3. One Juventus player, Daniele Rugani, has tested positive to coronavirus. In England, Arsenal men's coach Mikel Arteta has tested positive for the coronavirus and the club has shut its training facility.

Tennis Men's tennis has been suspended for six weeks and the WTA Tour followed in cancelling the Miami Open and the WTA event in Charleston. The announcements came after Miami-Dade County said it would suspend the Miami Open on the heels of Sunday’s last-minute cancellation of the Indian Wells tournament in Southern California. The decision was not taken lightly, ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said in a statement, adding that the suspension represents a great loss for players and fans. ‘‘We believe this is the responsible action needed at this time in order to protect the health and safety of our players, staff, the wider tennis community and general public health in the face of this global pandemic,’’ he said.