Photo Credit: Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia confirms the following actions in light of state border closures following South Australia’s COVID-19 outbreak:
- CA continues to monitor the situation in South Australia but remains committed to hosting the first Vodafone Test against India at the Adelaide Oval.
- Players and staff from Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland who are part of the Australian men’s Dettol One-Day International and Dettol Twenty20 International squads are traveling to Sydney today to commence their preparation for both series. This decision was made after players returning from the Marsh Sheffield Shield hub in South Australia after the last round were subject to changes in border conditions by the aforementioned state governments.
- The Adelaide Strikers and South Australia-based players from other KFC BBL squads are traveling to a training base in Coffs Harbour today. This decision was taken after the Tasmanian government announced tighter border restrictions with South Australia. The KFC Big Bash League is due to start in Hobart on Thursday, December 10.
CA can confirm none of the players in Adelaide for the Marsh Sheffield Shield visited the “hot spots” identified by SA Health. CA has nonetheless instructed all players to undergo COVID-19 tests, with all results received thus far returning negative.
Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia’s Interim CEO, said today’s actions were taken to ensure the summer schedule would not be compromised by recently announced border restrictions.
“CA has taken a pro-active approach and mobilised a number of people across the country over the past 24 hours to shore up our men’s domestic and international schedules.
“I would like to thank the players and staff for their understanding regarding the changes to their travel schedules and for their commitment to ensuring the summer of cricket is a huge success.
“I would also like to thank the various leadership groups across Australian cricket for coming together over the past 48 hours and taking quick, decisive action – made possible by thorough, cross-department contingency planning.
“CA will continue to monitor the situation in South Australia and the resulting border restrictions around the country.
“As ever, we will remain agile in addressing the challenges presented by the pandemic and remain more confident than ever of hosting a safe and successful summer across all formats.”
Name of Author: Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia (CA), formerly the Australian Cricket Board (ACB), is the governing body for cricket in Australia. Established in 1905 as the Australian Board of Control for International Cricket, CA manages all national teams, including Men’s, Women’s, and Youth sides, as well as other national teams. It oversees the organization of Test matches, ODIs, and T20Is, and coordinates home international fixtures.