Now there is a chance that Gabba will not run any tests from this series.
New South Wales would find itself hosting each of the last two Trials of the series against India at the SCG and Queensland was left empty-handed due to its closed southern border under one of the stages on the table as administrators grapple with how Navigating the many complications created by the Covid-19 outbreak on Sydney’s North Beaches.
The number of cases in the outbreak appears to have stabilized, with daily totals of seven and eight recorded by NSW Health over the past two days, all but one linked to the same group of northern beaches centered on Avalon. This bodes well in terms of public health for the successful organization of major cricket matches from the second week of January.
Even amid the current outburst, the A-League will kick off its season with a match in Sydney on Sunday night with at least 50% of the stadium capacity allowed. The biggest issue for Cricket Australia, Cricket NSW and SCG Trust are border closures, particularly between NSW and Queensland, where the Gabba is due to host the fourth round of the series, starting on January 15.
For most of the past five days, the available options appear to have ranged between switching the Brisbane and Sydney tests to allow more time for the borders to reopen, or to play back-to-back matches at MCG, where both teams from tour are currently preparing for the Boxing Day test.
While the Consecutive CGM Trials option remains the most likely at present, ESPNcricinfo understands that a third possible option has emerged, whereby the New Years Trial at the SCG is played from January 7 onwards as per what is scheduled, and if it does the Queensland border. Not open on time, the final match of the series also takes place at the SCG. As a result, only one Big Bash League game, the January 16 meeting between the Sydney Sixers and the Perth Scorchers at the SCG, would have to be moved.
Such a scenario would honor CA’s commitment to retesting at the SCG after NSW proved helpful in providing India’s port of entry to begin the tour on short notice, after lengthy and ultimately unsuccessful negotiations with the department. Queensland health agency and the state government to do the same. .
That backdrop has been further underlined by current disputes between the prime ministers of New South Wales and Queensland over the northern state’s decision to impose a hard border on Christmas. Either way, CA will likely make a decision on whether to cancel its current schedule prior to the start of the Boxing Day Trial.
The biggest hurdle to the dual SCG test scenario would be the potential implications for Australian players who intend to participate in the rest of the BBL after the end of the Indian series, depending on whether or not other state borders remained closed to NSW at the time.
Officials from CA, NSW, Queensland and the SCG Trust remained locked in talks on Wednesday, as brainstorming continued on how to run the rest of the series safely and smoothly.
Nathan Lyon, Australia’s number one bowler, is set to play his 100th test in the final match of the series, and said he was hopeful that CA and the states could find a way to play at least one test. in the SCG if possible.
“It’s difficult to answer,” Lyon said. “I know that CA is doing everything in its power to make the third test match in Sydney and I hope everything goes well in Sydney and more importantly, a lot of people stay safe and recover and cross fingers. The third test game may be at SCG. But all of that is in the hands of everyone above my salary level and all I know is that CA is doing everything possible. Fingers crossed that everyone be safe, especially at this special time of year.
“It has been quite an adaptable year for everyone around the world. It is out of our hands and I just hope that everyone in Sydney is safe and stays safe during this festive time of year and I know CA is doing its best in his power to have the test match in Sydney. “
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig
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