SACA’s innovative idea to keep cricket playing could see cricketing royalty, including Virat Kohli, quarantined at new Oval Hotel
The cream of world cricket would shelter from coronavirus right here in Adelaide under an ambitious plan to keep the sport alive during the pandemic.
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South Australia could prove vital in ensuring international cricket goes ahead this summer as the COVID-19 crisis continues to shut down sport and close global borders.
SACA has this week put forward a number of innovative ideas to Cricket Australia aimed at giving international cricket its best chance of being played if borders stay closed, including that Adelaide Oval becomes a hub where multiple Test matches are played, or that the stadium’s soon-to-be-opened Oval Hotel be used as a quarantine location for visiting teams.
The $42 million Oval Hotel is due to be completed in September and with India schedule to play Australia in a four Test series from November, the Indian team, including cricket royalty Virat Kohli, could be among its first guests.
SACA chief executive Keith Bradshaw sent an email to CA boss Kevin Roberts on Tuesday outlining potential ideas to save the upcoming cricket season which is under threat from travel restrictions and social distancing measures.
Under current guidelines, all overseas arrivals are required to quarantine for 14 days.
“We are so well-placed here in Adelaide with the Adelaide Oval hotel coming on stream in September to be able to say to a touring team, or group of teams, you can potentially come here, quarantine, and have access to first-class nutrition and diet and all the things you need and with our high performance training facilities, it’s an ideal option,” he said.
It comes as CA made the agonising decision on Thursday to stand down the majority of their staff on reduced pay until the end of the financial year.
The 2019-20 cricket season wasn’t badly affected by the health crisis, but uncertainty abounds about coming months and the next summer.
Bradshaw said he had consulted Stadium Management Authority boss Andrew Daniels about the idea and that they had both agreed it was a “unique offering that potentially couldn’t be replicated anywhere else in Australia”.
“And if there was a chance to save that series if it was in doubt, then why not at least make the offer so it can be considered,” Bradshaw said.
“The other idea I threw at him, was that we could potentially play more than one Test here.
“I’m not looking to cut the lunch of any of the other stadiums around Australia, we are a cricket family, but if it was a case of once (India are) here they weren’t allowed to travel around the country, then we could potentially play a series of games here if need be.
“But I don’t have a crystal ball, I don’t know how it’s going to look, but it’s another option to put in front of people.”
That idea is similar to the AFL’s “hub” suggestion which could see teams posted to regional areas to play each other in a round robin-style format.
Bradshaw said a similar idea could be used to save the Men’s T20 World Cup due to start on October 18.
“I don’t know whether that’s being considered or not, but I thought it’s better to put the idea out there and it may not be of interest to them, but it just might be.”
Roberts replied to Bradshaw’s email with: “A great option, thanks”.
Bradshaw said the 138-room hotel was reported to be on time and also on it’s $42 million budget.
Once open, the hotel will be offering an exclusive and high-end experience for guests.