Not Perth but Brisbane or Adelaide will the venue wherein India and Australia will begin the much-anticipated series later in 2020 as the Western Australia state government said it won’t able to relax quarantine rules.
India and a few Australian players were expected to arrive in Perth after the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the UAE. The rest of the Austarlian players, who are currently touring England, were also slated to enter the country via Perth.
“We didn’t think it was acceptable to have the team return from a high-risk overseas location and then take part in normal training activities outside of quarantine, before flying out to another state to play games.” Mark McGowan, the Premier of the WA state government was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
“There were just too many risks in the model put forward by Cricket Australia. We need to remain vigilant and do the right thing by all Western Australians and not take unnecessary chances.”
Both the teams were supposed to be based and train in a relaxed quarantine environment in Perth ahead of the series, but Western Australia state government’s insistence on a strict hotel quarantine for international travellers has put paid to CA’s plans.
The BCCI has requested the CA to allow its players to train during the quarantine inside the bio-bubble which is not possible in Perth, according to the Press Trust of India.
Meanwhile, the Adelaide Oval is prepared to host back-to-back Tests, including a day-night game as well as the Boxing Day against India later this year in case the iconic MCG is not available because of rising coronavirus cases in the state of Victoria.
