Sydney
Cricket Australia will consider swapping the third and fourth tests of Australia’s cricket test series against India due to a Covid-19 outbreak in Sydney where the third test is due to be played.
Australian media reported Sunday CA officials have a contingency plan to switch the Sydney test and the fourth test in Brisbane if the outbreak worsens. Officials currently are confident the Sydney test can go ahead as planned from Jan. 7.
If the tests are swapped, the Sydney test will be played from Jan. 15 to 19. A total of 30 new COVID infections were reported in Sydney on Sunday all associated with an outbreak in the city’s northern beach suburbs. The new cases caused the New South Wales state government to impose fresh restrictions on public and private gatherings.
CA’s coronavirus working group was due to meet Sunday to discuss the Sydney outbreak and its impact on the test series.
“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 interim chief executive Nick Hockley said. “We have made no changes to our schedule and our preference remains to play the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
“CA has prepared for the possibility of COVID-19 hotspots and state border closures over the course of the summer.”
The plan to swap the third and fourth tests is being considered in case Queensland state closes its border with New South Wales.
That would mean players and television crews could not travel from Sydney to Brisbane between the third and fourth tests.—AFP
