Ashes 2021-22: How the new Covid restrictions will play out for the Sydney Test

It’s ‘all systems go’ for next month’s Sydney Test despite the ever-increasing threat of Covid as Australia coach Justin Langer implores his side to show ‘common sense’ or risk missing out.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH – Pictured are Cricket Fans enjoying the Pink Test on day 3 of the Vodafone Test Series v India at the Sydney Cricket Ground today. Picture: Tim Hunter.

The SCG Test is under no immediate threat with the iconic venue expecting to operate at 100 per cent capacity when the Ashes rolls into town on January 5.

Cricket Australia is committed to staging the fourth Test in the midst of the worst coronavirus outbreak Australia has seen and will simply back in the latest advice from the NSW Health Department to ensure it can go ahead safely.

On Thursday premier Dominic Perrottet mandated masks indoors once again and introduced indoor density limits as the state’s daily number of reported Covid-19 infections exploded to an all-time high of 5715.

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Pat Cummins will still be playing in front of a full capacity home crowd next month.

But the new restrictions will not reduce the SCG’s capacity of 38,000 for the iconic New Year’s Test match and players will remain subjected to Level 4 protocols, which they are already abiding by in Melbourne.

“All systems go — looking forward to it,” SCG Trust chairman Tony Shepherd told News Corp.

“We’re still at 100 per cent (capacity after Thursday’s announcements) If you can do it, have your booster shot as soon as possible. That’s my message to everybody in Australia.”

CA pulled off a minor miracle last summer by delivering the SCG its precious Test match against India in the midst of the Northern Beaches outbreak — long before vaccines had been made available in Australia.

Crowds were capped at 25 per cent (9500) for that draw, but holding on to the showpiece match was regarded as a major win for the SCG Trust and Cricket NSW.

Crowds last summer at the Sydney Test were capped at 9500.

CA has worked closely with public health teams from each state, including when captain Pat Cummins was ruled out of the second Test after being declared a close contact by South Australian government officials last week.

SA Health also enforced a crowd limit at Adelaide Oval (35,000), which is set to remain the only Ashes venue to operate at less than 100 per cent capacity.

Australia coach Justin Langer said there was too much on the line for players to take risks in the public, particularly in the aftermath of Cummins having to spend what should have been his second Test match as captain in quarantine.

“We’re aware of it (Covid ),” Langer said.

“We’ve been living this life for some time now and I think guys just use some common sense.

“If the Australian cricket captain is ruled out from a close contact … there’s only 11 spots and all the boys want to be part of those 11 spots.

“I think they’ll be using their common sense. It’s a shame because hopefully one day we’ll get back to what we call ‘normal living’.”

News Corp revealed last week that the MCG was expecting more than 70,000 on Boxing Day, but players had been barred from going Christmas shopping or getting haircuts in Melbourne and Sydney due to CA’s tighter restrictions.

Originally published as Ashes 2021-22: How the new Covid restrictions will play out for the Sydney Test