Australia v India SCG crowd cap revealed for third Test

Officials have slashed the number of patrons allowed into the Sydney Test as thousands of country SCG members were told to boycott the match.

Cricket officials have made the stunning call to sacrifice money in the name of boosting the credibility of the pink Test by slashing crowd figures by 25 per cent.

In a major step back from the Government’s original push for 50 per cent crowds of up to 19,000 people, it’s understood SCG and cricket bosses read the room on public opinion and took the advice of NSW Health that a reduced capacity of about 10,000-11,000 was the right landing point.

However, NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres said on Monday night the possibility still remained to boost back up towards 50 per cent, depending on what the latest COVID-19 intel is on Tuesday morning.

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Cricket Australia interim CEO Nick Hockley confirmed the cap on Monday. Picture Mark Evans/Getty

The tickets that had already been sold for the Sydney Test were yesterday refunded and punters were forced to start again and fight for a reduced number of seats, but Ayres insists the 25 per cent figure is not final.

“We’ll have another look at the infection rate overnight and Tuesday morning we’ll be advising cricket about the possibility of releasing up to another 25 per cent, but that will be based on the information we collect overnight,” Ayres said on Radio 2GB.

SCG Trust chief Kerry Mather confirmed organisers had decided to go with a “two step” process which would start at 25 per cent and scale back upwards if appropriate.

However, sources have indicated that a more socially distanced crowd figure of 10-11,000 better fits the public sentiment, which has been polarised by the decision to welcome crowds to the SCG amid all the other restrictions imposed on Sydneysiders.

The major step back from original plans for a 50 per cent capacity came as country cricket fans and SCG members were urged to boycott the match to help keep the regional areas of NSW free of COVID-19.

SCG will be at 25 per cent capacity at this stage. Picture: AAP/Dan Himbrechts

Cricket Australia interim chief Nick Hockley indicated he didn’t feel comfortable with a crowd above 25 per cent, describing the capacity cut as “crucial”.

“In response to the public health situation in NSW, we are working closely with Venues NSW and NSW Health to put appropriate biosecurity measures in place for our staff, players, match officials, broadcasters and fans to ensure we play the third Test safely,” said CA interim chief, Nick Hockley.

“Reducing the capacity of the venue is crucial in achieving social distancing requirements and we sincerely thank ticketholders for their patience as we process refunds today, reconfigure the SCG seating plan to deliver these social distancing measures and go back on sale.”

Country SCG members have been urged to boycott the Sydney Test. Picture: Jeremy Ng/AFP

Mather said SCG officials would be strongly encouraging fans to wear masks at the venue during the Test, but stopped short of saying disobeying patrons could be ejected for failing to comply.

However, a noticeable police presence will be at the Test to enforce the new Government laws mandating mask wearing in indoor areas and on public transport.

It’s unknown whether the dozens of Sydney suburbs put on alert after sewage surveillance detected signs of COVID-19 in the Liverpool and Glenfield areas might become postcodes also banned from attending the Test.

Fans were last night given an exclusive window to repurchase tickets via Ticketek from 5pm on January 4 through to 12pm on January 5.

Any remaining tickets will be released to the public after that point.

Deputy premier John Barilaro at Monday’s COVID briefing. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

The SCG boasts close to 20,000 members and a considerable chunk are from rural areas who circle the iconic New Year’s Test match in their calendar every year.

But the state government has issued a stern warning – stay away when play begins on Thursday.

“In regional rural NSW right now we’re enjoying no restrictions,” NSW acting premier John Barilaro said on Monday.

“We got to have the summer and the Christmas we were robbed last year because of bushfires and drought because of the restrictions we’ve put in place in Sydney.

“So the risk would be that if someone from the regions comes to Sydney they could take it (COVID-19) back to a regional area.

“Maybe this year isn’t the year to come to Sydney to watch the Test.”