Melbourne could lose Boxing Day as Perth advances plans for a COVID-19 hub to save the summer

Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane could all miss out on prized India Tests as Perth advances plans, that would include Adelaide, for a COVID-19 hub to save the summer of cricket.

Australian players sing their national anthem on day 1 of the Boxing Day Test match between Australia and New Zealand at the MCG in Melbourne, Thursday, December 26, 2019. (AAP Image/Michael Dodge) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY, IMAGES TO BE USED FOR NEWS REPORTING PURPOSES ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE WHATSOEVER, NO USE IN BOOKS WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT FROM AAP

Melbourne’s iconic Boxing Day Test match would be lost to Perth or Adelaide this year should Victoria’s COVID-19 crisis fail to clear under a plan being devised in the west.

The MCC values Boxing Day as “the equivalent of two AFL Grand Finals across five days”, however, fears that Melbourne could miss out on staging the marquee blockbuster for the first time since 1989 are growing.

It would be a devastating blow for the sports-mad state that has been abandoned by the AFL and is now bracing for the Grand Final to be staged interstate for the first time in history.

Watch every ball of the West Indies Tour of England Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >

Could Australia and India be based in a hub for their four-Test series?

CRICKET NEWS

SCG spreads the sirt on secretive spin business

Aussie cricket turmoil continues as top administrator quits

Should the pandemic stretch into summer, the Western Australia Cricket Association wants two international cricket hubs set up in Perth and Adelaide that would deliver both of those cities two matches against India.

Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane would all miss out on hosting Virat Kohli’s men under that scenario.

“We haven’t given any thought to Melbourne (losing Boxing Day). But what we have given thought to is the fact that Perth is ideally suited to being a hub for international cricket,” WACA boss Christina Matthews told News Corp Australia.

“We have two ICC-accredited grounds with accommodation next to them and with international training and playing facilities at them.

“So if the MCG ends up being affected by COVID and we can’t run an international season as we would normally and we have to go into hubs, absolutely WA is there to take up the slack.

“Whilst Queensland is getting all the sport at the moment, it’s probably not as well-placed for a cricket hub as it is for an AFL hub.

Optus Stadium could be in for a busy summer.

“However both South Australia and WA are. You could easily start the Indian series in Perth with a couple of Tests and, pending on what the South Australia quarantine guidelines are, then move to Adelaide for the other two Tests.”

Perth was not awarded a Test against India when the fixture was released.

Instead it received the low-interest historic clash against Afghanistan, which some cricket sources suspect will get cancelled.

Matthews said Optus Stadium’s neighbouring casino complex complete with three hotels, combined with the nearby WACA Ground, would make the perfect cricket bubble.

“One of those hotels is currently being used by Geelong, so it’s already in the biosecurity framework,” she said.

“From a cricket point of view and where we (Perth) are at the moment with the virus we’re absolutely an option.”

Tim Paine may be spending Boxing Day in Adelaide or Perth.

Cricket Australia said it was focussed on delivering the original schedule but needed to remain “agile”.

“Perth is due to host Afghanistan and Melbourne is due to host India in the Boxing Day Test. Both are world class venues and we are working with our partners to deliver that schedule,” a CA spokesman said.

Similarly, Victoria’s sports minister Martin Pakula emphatically told News Corp Australia: “The Boxing Day Test will be played at the MCG.”

But Melbourne Stars general manager Nick Cummins conceded his Big Bash club – which is due to open its season at the MCG on December 5 – could be forced out of town.

“Our current strategy is plan on the assumption the season is going to go ahead as normal, but also start looking at contingencies just uncase it doesn’t,” Cummins said.

“If Geelong is not locked down, can you play in Geelong? If all of Victoria is locked down we would have to play elsewhere.

The Melbourne Stars could be based out of town for the Big Bash League.

“We’re hopeful and planning to be at the MCG – but we can’t dismiss the possibility we may not be.”

Intriguingly, the MCC’s contract with Cricket Australia expired at the end of last summer and the mooted three or four-year renewal still has not been signed.

Those close to the deal are confident it will get finalised soon, ensuring CA will officially take control of the MCG from October, as it does for most leading venues.

Originally published as Melbourne could lose Boxing Day as Perth advances plans for a COVID-19 hub to save the summer