Australia v India: Indian coach goes maskless as team refuses to confirm Gabba test

Despite India still not committing to playing at the Gabba, the SCG’s curator has revealed there has been no instruction to create a second wicket as a backup.

Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane has refused to confirm his side will fly to Brisbane to finish the series, as a defiant Ravi Shastri marched into the SCG unmasked.

Aussie skipper Tim Paine declared on Wednesday that tensions could explode in the Sydney Test after a week of leaks out of the Indian camp claiming they will refuse to commit to quarantine in Queensland and complaints they are being treated like “animals at the zoo.”

Paine said the sheer power held by the BCCI meant the kind of rumblings that have been coming out of team India mean it’s almost “likely” they could boycott Brisbane.

His Indian counterpart did little to quell the noise in his pre-match address.

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India’s Cheteshwar Pujara (right) talks to the team captain Ajinkya Rahane during a training session at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Picture: AFP

Rahane is adamant the final decision on what the team does after Sydney will be made by team management, despite the fact SCG curator Adam Lewis says he’s not working on a back-up second pitch should an emergency occur and India refuse to leave Sydney.

“We as players, we are just focusing on this Test match. The Indian team management, they will take the decisions,” Rahane said.

“For us as players, it’s all about giving our best on the field.

“The Test match is starting tomorrow so we are just focusing on that and we want to do well.”

Cricket Australia is still yet to hear any official complaint from the BCCI top brass over the schedule.

Rahane claimed regular Sydneysiders are living “completely normal” and admitted the quarantining protocols put on his team were starting to take their toll.

However, there is no difference between the quarantine conditions in Sydney and the ones players will be subjected to in Brisbane, making India’s complaints difficult to comprehend – particularly after they signed off on the schedule and protocols last Tuesday.

A maskless Ravi Shastri walks into the SCG unmasked, as his players and ground staff wears masks around him. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

On Wednesday, every Indian player wore a mask as they entered the ground from the team bus – except coach Shastri, who strode past security to the dressing rooms.

Five days after five Indian players were busted eating a restaurant in Melbourne indoors without masks, Rahane said the restrictions put on players have been tough.

“Being in the quarantine definitely brings its own challenges but as a team we’re just focusing on the game,” he said.

“We know that outside life in Sydney is completely normal, but the players we are in quarantine.

“That’s a challenge. But we have to face it.”

Paine says the sheer power and influence of the BCCI means a boycott of the Gabba cannot be ruled out.

The Australian captain is expecting some fireworks from a fed-up touring team.

“It’s been unusually tame the start of this series and I think it’s because both teams are just happy to be back playing Test cricket … but it’s boiling away,” Paine said.

Security looks on as Ravi Shastri walks into the ground. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“There’s some stuff starting to happen, a bit of chat starting to happen, so I think this Test is going to be fascinating not just from a cricket point of view but I think there’s a bit of tension starting to boil under the surface with unnamed sources coming out from their camp saying where they want to play the fourth Test and where they don’t want to go.

“I think it’s starting to grind a few people, so we’ll see how it goes.”

“… I’d just say (there’s) a bit of uncertainty because when you hear things like that coming - particularly from India, who we know hold a lot of power in world cricket, it’s likely that it could happen.

“So for us we just want to be really clear on this Test match. We know the protocols. We know what is expected of us. We’re going to focus on that this week then whatever happens never week, happens and we’ll adapt to it. But we’re not too fussed.”

SCG curator Lewis said he is no longer expecting to have to prepare a second pitch for Sydney to hold the fourth Test as well just three days after The New Year’s battle.

“No. I haven’t been asked by Cricket Australia to prepare anything,” Lewis said.

“I believe it’s still onto Brisbane and the Brisbane guys are looking forward to preparing for their Test.”

MCG scare prompts Sydney Test crackdown

— Sam Landsberger

Cricket fans will be fined if they are caught removing their masks at the SCG with organisers on high alert after a spectator who attended the MCG’s Boxing Day Test contracted coronavirus.

The safety strategy in Sydney has been escalated to now stipulate that fans can only remove their face masks while eating and drinking as crowd capacity is slashed to just 10,000 people.

Fans who were at the MCG on day two and seated in zone five have also been black-listed from attending the SCG on the back of Victoria’s announcement that the ‘G was now a potential coronavirus acquisition site.

Residents and workers from Wentworthville and Belmore were on Wednesday also added to the do-not-attend list and those attending the SCG Test cannot travel from stations within the hotspot areas.

NSW Health officials have also pleaded with fans to avoid taking public transport when they file into the SCG across the next five days.

Opener David Warner wears a mask before a nets session at the SCG.

Instead they want fans to drive themselves in or take a ride share service such as Uber, with masks expected to be worn once people walk out their front doors.

The transport plan that was initially drawn up to cater for a crowd of 23,000 will remain in place despite the reduced capacity to help avoid congestion.

A full crowd enjoys India and Australia’s T20 clash at the SCG earlier this summer.

“We want people to enjoy a day at the cricket, but it’s a COVID day at the cricket,” NSW Health minister Brad Hazzard said.

“That means mask on – not mask off, unless you’re eating or drinking.

“From the moment effectively you get in the transport to get there, and get in the queue at the front door of the SCG and go to your seat, and sit in your seat, you must wear a mask.”

Originally published as Australia v India: Indian coach goes maskless as team refuses to confirm Gabba test