Australia vs India SCG Test: A latest COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney has put its availability for the New Year’s Test under the scanner.
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Cricket Australia have an uninvited assignment under their belt in the form of pondering over the venue for the third Test against India.
Sydney, which has already hosted India for four white-ball matches and a tour match, was the original venue but the same has come under the scanner after a recent COVID-19 outbreak on the Northern Beaches.
With coronavirus cases rising up to 68 on Sunday, there is no going into a safe house around the fact that CA are now considering alternatives for the third Test which also includes a direct swap with the Gabba in Brisbane which is slated to host the fourth Test.
It is worth mentioning that any change in travel plans at this stage will involve the uncertainty of New South Wales administration’s mandatory quarantine measures for people coming into the state.
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If the situation doesn’t improve and CA decide to not host India in Sydney for a Test match, both the team could play the second and third Test in Melbourne or the third and fourth Test in Brisbane. However, the same will require the consent from the visiting side as well.
Another option for the cricketing body would be to conduct the third Test in either of Adelaide and Perth. While Adelaide has just hosted the first Test, Perth has been devoid of any international fixture in a rare scenario this season.
With a leg of the ongoing 10th season of the Big Bash League also scheduled to be played in Sydney next month, CA must also be thinking about changing the venue for the same.
Australia vs India SCG Test
“The third Test is more than two-and-a-half weeks away, which provides us with time to assess the evolving public health situation on the northern beaches of Sydney,” CA’s interim CEO Nick Hockley said in a statement. “We have made no changes to our schedule and our preference remains to play the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
“Cricket Australia has developed a solid track record of delivery throughout this most challenging of summers and will continue to make appropriate and proportionate decisions in consultation with our biosecurity team, governments, State & Territory Associations, the Australian Cricketers’ Association, our partners and venues”.
With a tough challenge lying ahead, CA would be banking on the successful way in which they conducted a Test match in Adelaide despite similar concerns prevailing last month. Melbourne, which will host the Boxing Day Test from December 26, was also doubtful of the same after a COVID-19 wave in Victoria in July.
