COVID-19: Adelaide Oval Test back on track

SA’s recent outbreak put next month’s day-night Test at Adelaide Oval in doubt, but there are now high hopes the match will go ahead with 27,000 spectators.

Adelaide cricket officials have shifted their discussions from whether they will host a match to how many they can fit in, as hopes rise for the day-night Test against India.

The state has emerged from lockdown believing there are two obstacles left to it hosting the December 17-21 Test as scheduled – a late and unexpected COVID-19 outbreak or a surprise border closure from another state.

For the Test to proceed, it must be guaranteed the Australian and Indian teams can fly to the next Test venue – at this stage Melbourne – for the Boxing Day Test.

That looked in doubt last week when SA was rocked by a COVID outbreak.

“We have had some really productive discussions with the Premier and health officials and I am fairly confident the Test will go ahead,’’ SACA boss Keith Bradshaw said.

“Of course we are beholden to the situation. They are getting on top of COVID here at the moment, which is fantastic.

There are hopes a crowd of up to 27,000 could attend next month’s day-night Test at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“Everything is full steam ahead for the 17th. We have done every possible contingency plan around it in case things do change, but the discussions we are having at the moment are around capacity.

“It has been a tough few days but at the moment it is positive.’’

Adelaide Oval was initially permitted to have 27,000 attend each day of the Test – about 50 per cent capacity – and officials have not given up on that figure.

One unfortunate casualty of the Test will be the outdoor corporate areas, which are such a vibrant feature of Test week but will not be possible this season.

Premier Steven Marshall said he, along with Sports Minister Corey Wingard and Mr Bradshaw, spoke to Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley on Friday about hosting the event at Adelaide Oval.

“We told him that we are very committed to having the Australia-India day-night Test in South Australia at the Adelaide Oval,” Mr Marshall said. “We walked him through where we were at, and our confidence that we will be able to reduce our restrictions and also open up to Victoria on December 1.”

SACA chief executive Keith Bradshaw, pictured, and Premier Steven Marshall have met with Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley to discuss next month’s day-night Test scheduled for Adelaide Oval. Picture MATT TURNER.

Tickets are not yet on sale for the Test. It was hoped they would be available to the public on December 4 but that date could be extended.

While there is no official deadline for a decision on whether Adelaide will host the Test, it is expected a green light will be given in the next few days.

An SA Health spokeswoman would not comment on when a decision was likely, and reiterated warnings the recent outbreak remained a threat.

“While we have seen some statewide restrictions lifted (on Sunday), it’s important South Australians remain vigilant for signs of COVID-19,” she said.

“The Parafield cluster is still a concern and unfortunately it’s just too early to tell what impact the cluster has on the future lifting of restrictions and events in SA.

“If there has been any leakage of the virus into the community, this is the week we will start to see it emerge.”

Cathedral Hotel manager Tim Bond said next month’s Test coincided with the busiest time of the year for the North Adelaide venue.

“Given the year we’ve had it’s been really tough for pubs in North Adelaide, so it’s vital the Test goes ahead,” he said.

“The Test is massive, obviously bigger when the Barmy Army’s in town, but it has a massive impact. A lot of pubs in North Adelaide don’t have gaming and rely on food and beverage, which is tough enough as it is.”