Australia’s international summer came to an abrupt end on Saturday after the New Zealand government tightened its border restrictions in the wake of the novel Covid-19 global pandemic.
New Zealand has enforced a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period for people entering the country from Australia and other countries from midnight tomorrow. This has meant that the Kiwi squad started making arrangements to head home before the restriction is imposed.
Effectively, this means that the remaining 2 ODIs of the Chappell-Hadlee series, scheduled for Sunday in Sydney and Hobart on Friday, have been called off. The following 3-T20I series between the neighbours in New Zealand starting March 24 in Dunedin has also been postponed.
Earlier, Australia beat the Kiwis by 71 runs in the series opener on Saturday in front of an empty Sydney Cricket Ground.
Australia’s women’s cricket team also had their limited-overs tour of South Africa cancelled as a precaution.
Also, New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson has been placed under isolation after complaining of a sore throat at the end of the 1st ODI against Australia at the SCG on Friday.
“In accordance with recommended health protocols, Lockie Ferguson has been placed in isolation at the team hotel for the next 24hrs after reporting a sore throat at the end of the first ODI,” a New Zealand Cricket spokesman said.
