The New Year’s Test between India and Australia, which is scheduled to start on January 7, will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground as planned according to Cricket Australia interim CEO Nick Hockley. He also confirmed that the Melbourne Cricket Ground is on standby to host the third encounter between the two teams.
During a virtual media interaction, Hockley said, “We are currently all systems go for the New Year’s Test to go ahead in Sydney as planned followed by the fourth Test in Brisbane.”
“The record testing numbers and the drop in new community transmissions in NSW have provided cause for optimism, however, if the situation worsens in Sydney, one of the contingencies is to play the New Year’s Test in Melbourne and then go straight to Brisbane.” he added.
However, a final decision on the venue for the third Test will be taken by the end of the second Test which starts on December 26.
Cricket Australia had to make emergency plans after Sydney’s northern beaches became a Covid cluster. Hosting two back to back Tests at Melbourne had emerged as a possibility. Hockley stated that CA was “working constructively” with the Queensland Government to secure the necessary travel exemptions to allow key personnel to travel into the state when required.
The boxing day Test which starts on December 26 will take place in Melbourne. The chances of Sydney hosting back to back Tests are low as “there’s a relatively short gap between the third and the fourth Tests. So from the pitch perspective, playing consecutive Tests in Sydney is highly problematic.”