Adelaide Oval still preferred venue to host back-to-back matches against touring Indian team due to COVID-19 restrictions
Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts says staff are preparing for India’s arrival to play a Test and One Day series against the Aussies later this year – with Adelaide Oval still the frontrunner to host multiple fixtures.
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Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts has told staff to prepare for an India tour this summer as Adelaide becomes the preferred venue to host multiple Tests and one-dayers.
Roberts on Wednesday told CA staff both he and chairman Earl Eddings were optimistic India would front in ‘some shape or form’ for a Test and one-day series this season.
Intense dialogue between Roberts, CA chairman Earl Eddings and the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) this week reached a point critical to underpinning a $300 million tour by Virat Kohli’s men.
SACA chief executive Keith Bradshaw, who has close ties with legend Sachin Tendulkar, noted BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal’s public endorsement of playing multiple Tests in Adelaide this summer.
“It is really encouraging. Obviously it is subject to complying with medical sign-off. We are working as hard as we can to bring it to fruition,” Bradshaw told The Advertiser.
“We would prefer India to come here first and maybe some ODIs as well.
“It makes sense if we have these issues travelling interstate and you have to quarantine for two weeks.
“India play well here, facilities and conditions suit them.
“Safety wise the (COVID-19) numbers are as good as anywhere in the world.”
Unthinkable in a traditional summer, Melbourne and Sydney could miss hosting Tests if there is a crowd lock-out.
Brisbane – despite the wish of Australian players – could also lose its India Test to Perth due to COVID-19 bio-security issues.
The four-match Border-Gavaskar Test series is currently scheduled across Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney during December/January.
Adelaide’s ability to stage multiple Tests using different, premium drop-in day and day-night pitches while safely quarantining India and Australia sides at the new Oval Hotel is a trump card for SACA.
CA and broadcasters would save significant costs by remaining in the same location for fixtures.
The extent of government restrictions would shape whether no or limited crowds with social distancing would be permitted during December in Adelaide, which has no active COVID-19 cases.
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A consequence of the changed COVID-19 landscape means the Australian Cricketers’ Association must approve any major change to the international schedule unless given 12 months notice by CA.
However, the players’ union is unlikely to oppose multiple Tests in one venue or a quarantine hub if it means securing $300 million tour that saves Cricket Australia from financial heartache.
The fortunes of the Oval Hotel – built with a $42 million taxpayer loan – would be lifted if Tim Paine and Kohli’s units took a wing each in the 138-room complex to open in late September.
South Australian players return for pre-season training next Monday when Bradshaw said Adelaide Oval can trial cleaning procedures inside its gym and facilities for the India tour.
“When our guys return for the Redbacks we are looking at how many people could be in the gym at any one time, entry and exit points and cleaning after use,” Bradshaw said.
Head all-in on Adelaide
Travis Head has backed Adelaide’s ambitious proposal to host multiple Tests against India in an unparalleled summer where Australia must “own” Virat Kohli’s men and its No. 1 ranking.
“If it was down to that I definitely know Adelaide would be able to hold that and the ground could withstand back-to-back Test matches,” said Australian vice-captain Head.
“Having the power to drop wickets in when we need creates an opportunity where we could potentially be able to do that.”
Adelaide curator Damian Hough is unique in mastering the production of drop-in pitches that provide an even contest between bat and ball.
Hough has been told to produce contrasting day and day-night Test strips using Legend and Santa Ana couch for consecutive matches, which is expected to win approval from Kohli’s camp.
“Adelaide Oval is such a good, unique ground in the fact we have drop-in wickets and what Houghy does is exceptional,” said Head.
“You could keep the trays out the back of Adelaide Oval No. 2 and drop them in when needed.
“There have been A-League games or concerts and Houghy prepared a Shield wicket and dropped it in the square a day or two out and you wouldn’t even know.”
The four-match Border-Gavaskar series was scheduled for Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.
A second COVID-19 wave or tightened travel restrictions would activate SACA chief Keith Bradshaw’s plan to play multiple Tests and house players at the Adelaide Oval Hotel.
Regardless, Head says Australia must replicate the heat India places on rivals at home to retain a head fought No. 1 Test ranking.
India won at Adelaide and Melbourne to secure a historic Test series in Australia during 2018-19.
“It is making sure you own home, winning in your home country,” he said.
“That is what puts you top of the rankings.
“It will be very important when India come, making sure you look at what they do when we are in India.
“They put you under a lot of pressure.”
However, the drop-in pitches essential to hosting multiple matches against India in Adelaide are contributing to leg-spinner and close mate Adam Zampa’s return to New South Wales.
Three first class games in two years for the Redbacks and Adelaide strips now suiting pace and finger spin has seen Australia’s No. 1 limited overs tweaker Zampa return to Sydney.
How an Adelaide Oval ‘hub’ could work
Under the emergency plan submitted to Cricket Australia, Adelaide would host multiple Tests against India as the sanctuary central to defying COVID-19’s financial ruin this summer.
India would play a minimum four Tests across different cities as originally planned through December/January if no quarantine periods are required in an improved COVID-19 landscape.
However, Adelaide is preparing to hold back-to-back Border-Gavaskar series Tests a week apart if a second COVID-19 wave forced India into prolonged medical quarantine.
SACA chief Keith Bradshaw has masterminded the multiple Test and quarantine hub plan at Adelaide Oval utilising the venue’s new hotel and unrivalled facilities.
Bradshaw is buoyed by ‘positive discussions’ with CA.
SACA chairman Andrew Sinclair has been in dialogue with CA counterpart Earl Eddings to ‘put forward’ Adelaide as the logical venue for back-to-back Tests to avoid unworkable quarantining for India.
“I am optimistic about how it has been received. Keith put forward the proposal and we have spoken to Earl Eddings several times about it and it is getting a good response,” Sinclair told The Advertiser.
A CA spokesman said it was premature to comment until a bio security plan was lodged with government.
Regardless, Adelaide’s virtual eradication of COVID-19 makes it an attractive destination to guarantee a series worth $300 million to cash-strapped CA’s coffers.
“I think we are well placed compared to anywhere else,” Sinclair said.
The world’s leading drop-in pitch curator Damian Hough will be instructed to produce different day and day-night pitches using Legend and Santa Ana couch that offer variant surfaces.
“Damien has got two different grasses and it has all been really well received. Both countries like the sound of it,” Sinclair said.
“We have used a legend couch and Santa Ana couch which could be used for different surfaces.
“That gives some cause for promise that we have something you can’t do elsewhere.”
Hough required just five days to turn Adelaide Oval from AC/DC rock stage to day-night Test venue in 2015.