The fate of the SCG Test should come down to one simple question, writes Robert Craddock

We all love the Sydney Test. But if Cricket Australia can’t answer this question with a yes, it must be cancelled as soon as possible.

Will the Sydney Test go ahead? Picture: Brett Costello

There are a thousand biosecurity threads to be discussed about the Sydney Test but the match’s fate should boil down to one simple question.

Can you get crowds in?

If not, it should be cancelled as soon as possible and switched to another venue – like Melbourne – which can.

Sydney has not totally given up on getting a crowd in so this debate remains open but the chances of massive crowds are fading fast.

And that is totally understandable.

It’s hard to preach a limit of 50 people on indoor dance floors in your city and allow 20,000 people to the cricket.

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Will the Sydney Test go ahead? Picture: AAP Images

We all love the Sydney Test but going there just for the pitch is not enough. You need people.

If the venue is not permitted to host a decent crowd Cricket Australia would be better off staying in Melbourne for two Tests, halving the price of tickets, and seeing if it can sell 25,000 tickets or so each day for 10 days of Test cricket.

Don’t write it off.

The Indians have a massive following in Melbourne, as evidenced by a game between India and South Africa in the 2015 World Cup which attracted an astonishing roll up of 86,876 at the MCG.

Cities are given hosting rights to a Test as a way to entertain loyal home fans.

But if those fans are sitting at home on television there is no point going there.

Cricket also has to be careful of playing a Test in Sydney just because it can.

If the COVID situation worsens in Sydney is it really the right “feel’’ for the game to be taken to a city which has far greater things to think about the debate over whether the gap in Sydney Heads is wider than the one between Prithvi Shaw’s bat and pad.

Marnus Labuschagne celebrates his century during last year’s Sydney Test. Picture: Brett Costello

A cricket Test should be a celebration not an act of defiance or bloody-mindedness.

Despite all the twists and turns and journeys around the Cape of Good Hope Cricket Australia has done an excellent job to pull this summer off.

They are right to give Sydney every chance to host the Test … but the clock is ticking – fast.

If Melbourne gets two Tests it will truly be the ultimate sign that COVID has turned the world upside down.

Only months ago Melbourne looked at long odds to host one Test as the entire city was in extended lockdown.

They always said cricket was a funny game.