Sydney is due to host the third Test of the four-match Test series between India and Australia. But the coronavirus is likely to play spoilsport. The cases in northern beaches reached 28 on Friday and it has put Sydney on high alert. However, Cricket Australia interim chief executive Nick Hockley has indicated that they are monitoring the situation and as of now, the Test match is still on.
The spike in COVID-19 has forced former pacer Brett Lee, who had also come from Sydney, to return home. Although the pacer has not developed any symptoms but is heading back home as a precautionary measure. With him, two Sydney-based broadcasters returned home as well. On the other hand, three members of the SEN commentary team, covering the first Test, have left Adelaide.
Cricket Australia accessing situation in Sydney:
Hockley stated that they will wait and watch and are not threatened. The situation is being closely monitored with medical authorities until then they are going as per plan.
“There’s been lots of discussion and meetings of our medical experts, but this is the reason why throughout the summer we’ve had our players in bubbles in the hub,” CA’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley told SEN Radio.
“We’re monitoring the situation; we’re not panicking at all, staying calm… … it’s really watch, wait and see and I think the governments around the country have handled the pandemic so well, so we’ll watch, learn and stay in touch.”On whether the SCG Test was in doubt, Hockley said: “I don’t think so – this is the very reason why we have the hubs in place…
“… whether it’s the WBBL players, the BBL players, the BCCI, our own Australia squads, they have been absolutely fantastic in dealing with all the protocols.
“Our medical experts have been working around the clock, we’re in very good communication with health authorities around the country. It’s one of the things we’ve had to navigate with getting cricket up safely.”
Since the outbreak of coronavirus, Australia has become the first nation to bring back the crowd in the stadium during the ongoing India tour. In the ongoing pink-ball Test, 50% of Adelaide capacity is allowed to be filled. But it will be interesting to see whether the crowd will be allowed in Sydney.