NSW looming as one of last remaining options for Cricket Australia to keep India tour alive
India’s COVID struggles have made Queensland’s government uneasy about hosting the country’s Test team. But IPL hub rules, and some smart personal tech for each player, should allay any fears.
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Cricket’s bizarre new beep test could help save the Indian summer.
NSW Health is under mounting pressure to come to Cricket Australia’s rescue, as they are confronted with a dilemma that has had other states running for cover.
India has recorded 7.5 million COVID-19 cases and is one of the hardest hit countries on the planet, with the Queensland Government this week confirming they’ve been spooked by those numbers and don’t feel the same about letting Indian cricketers in as they did welcoming in New Zealand cricketers.
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But despite what Queensland has inferred, multiple sources have confirmed most of India’s players have spent the past eight weeks in the strictest of bubbles in the IPL in Dubai where they have been subjected to COVID-19 tests every three to four days and have been wearing GPS trackers which beep any time they come too close to another person or reach the outskirts of the bubble.
The remainder of India’s touring squad, coaches and families are due to arrive in Dubai and spend two weeks under these same restrictions before flying to Australia on November 11.
NSW now shapes as one of Cricket Australia’s last remaining options to get the $300 million show on the road, because it’s absolutely critical that the Indians be allowed to train while in quarantine.
Former star Michael Slater has been in Dubai commentating on the IPL and declared the Indian players would be arriving into Australian quarantine already bubble-wrapped courtesy of the ingenious beeping technology.
“We’ve got tags we’ve got to wear. It’s GPS tagging. It’s more about that social distancing. It will go off if you’re spending too much time too close to people. They’ve thought of everything,” said Slater.
“Everyone has a health check app we have to fill in every day and have your temperature taken before you can go to the game.
“We are getting tested once or twice a week right to the end.”
Players currently in the IPL have confirmed to News Corp they’ve been tested every three or four days, as have their staff.
Queensland deputy Premier Steven Miles claimed on Tuesday that the Indian cricketers hadn’t been in a bubble to the standard of the AFL or NRL, but Cricket Australia are confident they can convince NSW officials that’s not the case.
Western Australia already slammed the door on returning international cricketers months ago, while the Adelaide Oval hotel which recently quarantined the Australian ODI team, has since been ruled unacceptable as an isolation facility by the South Australian Government and shut down from use.
Channel 7 chief executive James Warburton said the paranoia of other states about welcoming in Indian cricketers had heaped significant pressure on NSW Health to save the day.
Warburton admitted his surprise that Cricket Australia hadn’t already sorted its quarantine conundrum but emphasised that despite the TV rights war, the network was at one in wanting India to arrive.
“We do find it surprising that three weeks before the all-conquering Indian team is due, that Cricket Australia is still (looking for a) port for them to arrive,” said Warburton following Channel 7’s 2021 Up Front presentation to advertisers and sponsors on Wednesday.
“They’ve had the entire winter to make their plans, and the AFL and NRL have executed their seasons.
“We really hope for our viewers that they can deliver the Test series. But there must be huge pressure on NSW Health given Western Australia … and it looks like Queensland have all said no.”
Warburton said it was Seven’s duty to hold Cricket Australia “to account” in providing bang for buck this summer, but said the network’s vocal approach over recent months shouldn’t be interpreted as them death riding the Test series, insisting they want India’s quarantine conundrum to be resolved.
“To be 100 per cent clear, we love the cricket and we have a huge amount of respect for the teams and the athletes,” Warburton said at the presentation.
“… We pay for and expect a first-class product and will hold Cricket Australia accountable to provide that quality this summer. Even if it means at times we are outspoken.”