SYDNEY (Australia): Cricket Australia said on Sunday they won’t be rushed into a decision on the Sydney Test and insisted they were still the preference to play the third match of the Test Series at the SCG from January 7.
State border closures on Sunday threatened to cause serious headaches for cricket officials, as Victoria and South Australia shut the door on greater Sydney.
A similar decision could still potentially come from Queensland, after another 30 cases were detected in the community on Saturday.
A Covid-19 cluster has risen to 68 cases since it emerged on Thursday, with parts of Sydney’s north in a snap lockdown and restrictions placed on travel to several other states.
The Test is due be held from January 7 and CA interim chief Nick Hockley said they were watching the situation closely, with contingency plans in place.
“We have made no changes to our schedule and our preference remains to play the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground,” he said in a statement as speculation mounted that it would be moved.
“CA has prepared for the possibility of Covid-19 hotspots and state border closures over the course of the summer.
“The protocols that we have put in place have been effective in ensuring the safety and success of the men’s and women’s domestic and international programs to date.
“We will continue to work closely with all relevant parties to make the right decisions in the appropriate timeframes,” he added.
If the Sydney clash goes ahead, a problem could be getting the players to Brisbane for the final Test a week later after Queensland state announced Sunday it was effectively closing its border to Sydney.
