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Australia and England players are set to avoid a hard bubble despite Pat Cummins being ruled out of the Adelaide Test after becoming a close COVID-19 contact.

Australia's cricketers are likely to wrap themselves in tighter bubbles even if officials don't impose stronger restrictions after a brush with COVID-19 ruled Pat Cummins out of the Adelaide Test.

Australia's captain was reduced to watching the second Ashes Test from his hotel room, after being deemed a close contact by South Australia health after a Wednesday night steakhouse dinner.

Cummins was dining inside The Little Hunter with his brother and Adelaide Strikers player Harry Conway when a person at a nearby table discovered he had tested positive to the virus.

Cummins and his party immediately left and notified cricket authorities, but after discussions with health officials on Thursday was ruled out of the Test.

Australia avoided a potential catastrophe when it was revealed Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon were also dining at the restaurant, but were sitting outside.

As a result they were considered only casual contacts, leaving them free to play as part of a new-look attack alongside Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser.

Mark Steketee and Scott Boland have also been brought into the squad as cover, while Steve Smith is captaining the team for the first time since the ball-tampering scandal.

It also prompted questions over the need for stricter restrictions, which have so far been played down by Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley.

"What we don't want to do is we don't want to completely lock down the players," Hockley said.

"I think we struck a balance, we always know that there's a level of risk. I think we've just been extremely unlucky.

"The alternative would have been to lock everyone down completely for the whole tour.

"We've learnt over the last 18 months that can have other consequences in terms of mental health and wellbeing."

Hockley also insisted the game's protocols were working, given the fact players are told to dine in groups of no more than six may have saved Lyon and Starc.

Adelaide has had a rise in COVID-19 cases over the past week, with the 50 reported in the two last days the most in a single day in 18 months.

The Ashes roadshow will move to Melbourne and Sydney after Adelaide, where cases are back in their thousands on a daily basis.

Hockley would not be drawn on what protocols players would be under in the two cities, after freedoms were a significant talking point prior to the tour and England's agreement to travel.

Regardless though, injured quick Josh Hazlewood indicated players would operate on a common-sense basis to avoid missing Tests from here on.

"I think (the rules) might be revisited now after what happened last night," Hazlewood said on Seven.

"It's probably up to the player in that regard to maybe think a Test match is coming up (I'll play it safe).

"We've been in bubbles for so long though. It's great to eat out at restaurants so I can't fault Patty for that."

Cummins, the world's top-ranked Test bowler, claimed a five-wicket haul in the series-opening win at the Gabba.

His absence therefore came as a massive blow to Australia when considering Hazlewood's injury.

The 28-year-old will likely be provided gym equipment to train while in his room, with the captain able to return for Boxing Day assuming he continues to test negative.

"Gutted to miss this Test but really excited to see Neser finally get his chance in the baggy green," Cummins posted on Twitter.

"He has done the hard yards and is a seriously skilful player.

"Super frustrating but COVID has thrown us all some curve balls over the last couple of years. Will be cheering along!"