The Melbourne Cricket Ground has been confirmed as the replacement location for the third India-Australia test to be held in Sydney. Amid a COVID-19 outbreak on Sydney’s northern beaches, Cricket Australia announced the MCG as the replacement location for the third Test starting Jan. 7, although they are working towards ensuring that the game is played at the Sydney Cricket Ground as in the original schedule. If CA needs to change venue, the MCG will host back-to-back test matches, with the Boxing Day test scheduled to take place there from December 26th.
“We have always argued that planning a full summer of cricket during a global pandemic would require agility, problem-solving and teamwork like never before,” Nick Hockley, interim CEO of Cricket Australia, said in a statement from Cricket.com.au quoted.
“We continue to attach great importance to the safety and well-being of everyone involved.”
“The record test numbers and the decline in new community broadcasts in NSW are cause for optimism, but if the situation in Sydney worsens, we will have strong contingency plans,” added Hockley.
If the third test is taken in Sydney, another problem is the fourth test to be played at the Gabba in Brisbane.
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Queensland has closed its border to anyone traveling from the greater Sydney area, meaning CA may have to move the fourth game out of Brisbane, but Hockley said they are working “constructively” with the Queensland government to make the necessary exemptions for them Travel to get keys to allow staff to travel to the state if necessary.
The MCG, which has become Australia’s traditional Boxing Day venue, hasn’t hosted a January Test since 1990, when Allan Bords Australia defeated Pakistan by 92 runs. Mark Taylor scored a century and Terry Alderman took a five-wicket move in the fourth innings.
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