Former Australian skipper Mark Taylor stated that the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India won’t look good without any crowd. As Melbourne has recorded a surge in the coronavirus cases in the recent past, it is feared that the iconic venue for the Test match can be changed. Taylor feels the Optus Stadium in Perth or the Adelaide Oval are two of the options where the match can be moved.
As of 27 June, the total number of cases in Victoria is 1987 and thus the MCG hosting rights can be at stake. Meanwhile, India will begin their Down Under tour with the first Test match to be played at the Gabba, Brisbane from December 3. The teams will then travel to Adelaide Oval for the first-ever pink Test match between the two countries from December 11. However, there are no doubts over the hosting of the third Test match in Melbourne.
Mark Taylor feels the venue can be changed
“Could it move? Obviously, because if you look at what is happening across Australia by Christmas time the MCG may only be able to host 10,000 or 20,000 people which will not look great for an iconic test like Australia and India,” Taylor told ‘Channel 9’.
“You move that to Optus stadium in Perth or even Adelaide Oval you will get full venues. Adelaide in particular loves seeing the Indians play. The India-Pakistan game in the World Cup sold out in 52 mins or something,” he added.
Meanwhile, when the venues were announced for the series against India by Cricket Australia, WACA chief Christina Matthews had lashed out at the board for the preferring Brisbane over WACA. Now with the chance opening, Mark Taylor feels WACA will like to grab the opportunity to host Virat Kohli’s men.
“Those venues especially Perth will be trying hard to get that game as it would look better with full crowds.”
The Optus stadium in Perth can host 60,000 people. Meanwhile, the crowd in the series between India and Australia will depend on the situation of the Covid-19.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had recently said that they would look to have around 10,000 spectators in the stadium while keeping in mind the social distancing norms. Australia has thus far recorded 7563 cases of coronavirus out of which 6958 have recovered whereas 104 people have lost their lives.
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