India’s tour of Australia 2020: WACA open to replace MCG for Boxing Day Test

WACA open to replace MCG: The growing COVID-19 cases in Victoria might force the Boxing Day Test to shift to some other venue.

Irrespective of how Australia’s summer scheduled is designed, one thing which is given is that the Boxing Day Test will be played in Melbourne. That being said, the ritual is in likeliness of getting affected by the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Victoria.

It was nearly a month ago that former Australia captain Mark Taylor had opened up on the same issue saying that the Boxing Day Test could be shifted to either of Perth or Adelaide due to coronavirus-related concerns.

Most recently, WACA’s (Western Australia Cricket Association) Christina Mathews expressed confidence in Perth having it in it to become a hub for international cricket especially if Melbourne is rules out as a venue for the high-profile series against India.

“We haven’t given any thought to Melbourne [losing Boxing Day Test]. But what we have given thought to is the fact that Perth is ideally suited to being a hub for international cricket.

“We have two ICC-accredited grounds with accommodation next to them and with international training and playing facilities at them,” WACA boss Christina Matthews told News Corp Australia.

WACA open to replace MCG

When Cricket Australia announced the probable fixtures for India series, WACA had expressed disappointment at not getting to host a Test against India. Slated to host Afghanistan at the Optus Stadium to commence Test cricket in Australia this year, Perth might get to host India as well especially if the situation doesn’t improve in Victoria.

“So, if the MCG ends up being affected by COVID and we can’t run an international season as we would normally and we have to go into hubs, absolutely WA is there to take up the slack,” Matthews said.

If it comes to Australia hosting India under a bio-secure bubble, Matthews put forward the idea of conducting the Test series in South and Western Australia. It is worth mentioning that both the stadiums in Perth can be utilized as bio-secure venues due to hotels being in near proximity.

“You could easily start the Indian series in Perth with a couple of Tests and, pending on what the South Australia quarantine guidelines are, then move to Adelaide for the other two Tests,” Matthews added.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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