New Year’s Test vs India: The third Test of the ongoing series continues to remain in limbo due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney.
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The third Test of the ongoing India’s tour of Australia continues to remain under the scanner due to a sudden COVID-19 outbreak at the Northern Beaches in Sydney.
Originally scheduled to begin from January 7 in Sydney, the New Year’s Test is now in its search for an alternate venue. It was due to the same reason that there were concerns about India opening batsman Rohit Sharma, who is undergoing a mandatory quarantine period in Sydney.
While Cricket Australia had opened up on shortlisting alternatives provided the situation worsens in Sydney, they have now come up with a confirmed standby in the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Where will Australia play New Year’s Test vs India?
“We have always maintained that scheduling a full summer of cricket during a global pandemic would require agility, problem-solving and teamwork like never before,” Cricket Australia’s interim CEO Nick Hockley said in a statement.
“We continue to place the safety and well-being of everyone involved as our number one priority.
“The record testing numbers and the drop in new community transmissions in NSW have provided cause for optimism, however if the situation in Sydney deteriorates, we have strong contingency plans in place.”
With MCG as a confirmed alternative venue, the move further protects players from undergoing a potential quarantine period upon reaching Brisbane for the fourth Test. It is worth mentioning that the same has already affected participation of Australia A-bound BBL players in the ongoing BBL 10.
If the Test match gets played in Sydney, it will be an outcome of an improved COVID-19 situation. The same would obviously call for a relaxation in the rules on the part of the Queensland government.
Having said that, if the second and the third Test match gets played in Melbourne, it will be after decades that the MCG would host two Tests in an Australian summer and the SCG won’t host the New Year’s Test.
