SYDNEY (Reuters) – Cricket Australia said on Sunday that they still planned to play their third Test against India in Sydney in early January, despite the fact that COVID-19 in the north began home.
The spread of the virus in Sydney’s northern beaches has grown to around 70 cases, forcing authorities to introduce tougher social measures and remove borders with other states.
The third trial at Sydney Cricket Ground on the east side of the city is expected to begin on January 7 and Australian Cricket Chief Nick Hockley was too early to make further preparations.
“The third test is more than two and a half weeks away, which will give us time to assess the growing public health situation on Sydney’s northern beaches,” he said in a statement.
“We have not made any changes to our schedule and it is still our choice to play the game at Sydney Cricket Ground.
“We will continue to work closely with all relevant parties to make the right decisions in the right timescales.”
Hockley said Cricket Australia had contingent plans to break out of the virus locally and that this year’s experience had taught them not to panic to make changes prematurely.
“Less than a month ago South Australians were embroiled in an outbreak of the virus in Adelaide and we have just had our first fantastic test at the Adelaide Oval,” he said.
“We were facing similar issues with Melbourne Cricket Ground who hosted the Boxing Day trial and we are now less than a week away from welcoming the Victorian crowd.” Australian opener David Warner, who is battling a groin injury but is hoping to qualify for a second test on December 26, flew from Sydney to Melbourne with his family on Saturday as a warning, the local media.
Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, edited by Stephen Coates