The impending reopening of Tasmania's borders has boosted hopes of Hobart hosting an Ashes Test
Western Australia’s continued hard line stance and Tasmania’s border reopening date could result in Hobart hosting the state’s first Ashes Test. LATEST >>
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WESTERN Australia’s continued hard line stance and Tasmania’s border reopening date could result in Hobart hosting the state’s first Ashes Test.
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein announced December 15 as the date the state would reopen to the country while his WA equivalent Mark McGowan said his state won’t reopen to Victoria and NSW until some time next year.
Perth is scheduled to host the fifth and final Ashes Test starting on January 14, with all players and officials coming directly from the previous Test in Sydney – putting WA in doubt at its own hand.
Mr Gutwein said discussions were continuing with cricket’s governing bodies.
“I think the likelihood of Western Australia letting in a touring party out of one of the eastern states is getting slimmer and slimmer,” Mr Gutwein said.
“I have had discussions with Cricket Tasmania in recent times and also with Cricket Australia and I have reiterated to them we would love to have an Ashes Test here in the state subject to that becoming available.”
However, full crowds at sporting and other events in Tasmania won’t be happening anytime soon he said, with Mr Gutwein saying his government would be taking a cautions approach to full capacities at venues.
“We will manage this very carefully as we move forward but I wouldn't think we would see significant increase in any of those settings until some time much later next year,” he said.
Hobart Test gets a cold shoulder from Cricket Australia
TASMANIA is in a “cone of silence” about its chances of hosting an Ashes Test match but Blundstone Arena would be Test-ready within a “minute’s notice” from Cricket Australia that the Poms were on their way.
Tasmanian cricket boss Dominic Baker said preparations were well advanced behind the scenes to make sure Tasmania’s Test venue was ready to go if it gets the green light to host one of the five Ashes contests between Australia and England this summer.
With Western Australia refusing to open its arms for the England cricket team, and the Poms reluctant to quarantine for an additional two weeks to access WA, Hobart and Canberra are front runners to get a piece of the Ashes action.
Asked what noises Cricket Tasmania was not hearing from CA, Baker said: “Not many, other than the schedule is not set and won’t be set until there is a lot more direction on borders.
“We are closer to getting an Ashes Test match than we have ever been but that is by virtue of the situation.
“It will really come down to borders and what other state government determine to do with their borders and what we determine to do with our own.
“The ground is in fantastic condition and one of the thing we know about Blundstone Arena is its flexibility and we will be ready to go at a minute’s notice.”
On the day CT announce Hydro Tasmania as major partner of the Hobart Hurricanes WBBL team with interim CEO Ian Brooksbank, Baker said his organisation was buoyed to the Tasmanian Tigers’ start to the Sheffield Shield season against Queensland in Adelaide on Thursday, after being “evacuated” from Brisbane after a Covid-19 scare there.
“They had a false start last week so they are in Adelaide and it’s great to get the season under way,” Baker said.
“It’s really exciting for Allister de Winter, our stand-in coach, to realise a little dream for him to be able to coach at first class level as head coach.”
Hobart ready to host Ashes Test
TASMANIA has intensified its bid for an Ashes Test and the state’s Covid-free status has Blundstone Arena in the box seat to pick up a match but cricket boss Dominic Baker says it is too early for fans to get excited.
Baker, head of Cricket Tasmania, is cautiously optimistic about Hobart’s chances of hosting one of the five Australia-England Ashes Tests this summer as the traditional host cities juggle Covid-19 concerns, particularly Perth.
Hobart was “ready, willing and able” to be an Ashes host.
“It’s a moving feast _ a five-Test series is on the way and we are one of only three states that’s got open access at the moment,” Baker said.
“We’ve got a ground and a facility here that will be able to house, on current regulations, about 10,000 people.
“If it makes sense for Test match cricket to be played here because we can get fans in, and because it’s the safest place to play, we’ll be pushing for it.
“This ground is ready, willing and able to host Test cricket and has been for a long time and we will play our part if the time comes.”
Bums on seats will play a significant role in the decision where to move Ashes Tests.
“There is a financial equation attached to playing England and India,” Baker said.
“Ensuring good crowds come through the gate, like the AFL did by going to Western Australia, proved that you can re-fill the coffers through a time that has been tough for a lot of sports, so that has also got to be taken into account.
“This venue is cheap to run and under current protocols we can have 10,000 so if we are a bit better placed than others [host venues] I would expect we’d get a look in.”
Australia’s Test match against Afghanistan is yet to be officially canned but Baker said it was “highly unlikely”.
Tasmanian fans should wait for confirmation about an Ashes Test coming to Hobart before dusting off their green and gold gear.
“I wouldn’t be getting too excited just at the moment,” Baker said.
“There are no plans to play Tests outside of where they have been scheduled so there is a lot of water to go under the bridge but things can change quickly.”
While it waits, CT has its hands full, with the Tasmanian Tigers called home before a ball was bowled in its Sheffield Shield opener against Queensland after a Covid-19 scare hit Brisbane on Tuesday.
“We want to get our grade season away, we want to get our Shield season away and our one-day season away. We’ve got the WBBL heading here in a matter of weeks,” Baker said.
“We’ve got a lot to think about before we start thinking about a Test.”
Hobart may gain Ashes but loses Afghanistan test
TASMANIA’S chances of hosting the Fifth Ashes test are seemingly still alive with Premier Peter Gutwein telling Cricket Tasmania that if the Perth test was to be moved then he wants Tasmania’s name thrown in the ring.
On Tuesday speculation grew that Western Australia’s strict border restrictions would force Cricket Australia to move the Fifth Ashes Test scheduled for Perth on January 14 and on Wednesday Premier Gutwein acknowledged he had been in talks with relevant parties and was in support of the test being relocated to Hobart.
“I spoke with Cricket Tasmania yesterday and I’ve spoken with Minister Richard Colbeck in recent days as well,” Gutwein said.
“Obviously I’ve said very clearly that should an opportunity arise for an Ashes test we would very much like to put forward the state as being a venue for that,” he said.
Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker told Triple M Hobart that Hobart would be ready for any possible relocation.
“It is going to be a fluid year and the last couple have years have been like that and we will be ready, willing and able to play a test match here (Hobart) if we get the opportunity,” Baker said.
Cricket Australia said in a statement they were aiming to play the schedule as currently planned ‘to the fullest extent possible.’
“As we have throughout the pandemic, Cricket Australia is working closely with State and Territory Cricket Associations and respective governments in planning for the upcoming Vodafone Ashes Test series.
“We are buoyed by current vaccination rates and it is our intention to play the schedule as planned to the fullest extent possible.
“CA will continue to monitor the situation in the weeks and months ahead as we get closer to the series and will continue to work with relevant stakeholders, with the safety and wellbeing of all involved as our number one priority.”
Afghanistan v Australia Hobart test put to bed
Tasmania’s cricket boss has sunk the possibility Australia’s test against Afghanistan, scheduled to begin in Hobart on November 27, announcing it will be officially postponed in coming days.
Earlier this month Cricket Australia said it would not agree to play the Afghans in Hobart unless the Taliban changed its stance on not allowing women to play sport.
On Wednesday Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker confirmed on Triple M Hobart that Cricket Australia would follow through with that stance.
“It’ll be formally postponed indefinitely this week. That’ll come out in the next couple of days,” Baker said.
“It’s about giving the Afghanistan government some direction around what they have to do to get back into sport.
“It’s not acceptable that they don’t allow female sport. If they want to play competitive male sport, particularly in the cricket sphere, they have to rethink what they do with female sport.”
Baker said the Afghan test would not be cancelled all together but rather postponed at this stage to allow Afghanistan the chance to change their stance on female sport.
The first Ashes Test is due to start in Brisbane on December 8.
Could Tassie snatch WA’s Ashes Test match?
PREMIER Peter Gutwein is holding talks with Cricket Tasmania over the possibility of an historic Ashes Test in the state this summer, as doubts loom over Western Australia’s ability to stage the match.
Tasmania’s name has been thrown in the ring to host the fifth Test as WA’s strict border restrictions and Covid protocols could result in the match being moved.
WA’s state border policies, which demands certain visitors quarantine for two weeks, has raised concerns about whether the current Ashes schedule is possible, and if Perth will be able to hold the Test.
Mr Gutwein said Tasmania was interested in hosting an Ashes Test if circumstances allowed.
I had a discussion with Cricket Tasmania again today and confirmed our position that we are very interested and open to the possibility of hosting an Ashes test should the opportunity arise,’’ the Premier said on Tuesday.
“These discussions are ongoing.”
It comes after debate sparked on Tuesday around which state could likely benefit from a possible Test relocation and Hobart was among those mentioned.
Federal Sports Minister and Tasmanian Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck said he believed the current WA restrictions would result in the Fifth Ashes Test being moved from the state, telling Perth’s 6PR on Tuesday that players did not want to undertake the two week quarantine required to play in the West.
“We’ve had to do a lot of work to organise quarantine arrangements for cricketers coming into Australia,” he said.
“We want the Ashes tour to go ahead but I’d say there’s serious questions about whether or not there’ll be a Test match in Perth this summer.”
Mr Colbeck said player’s reluctance to quarantine, as well as the logistical issue the two-week quarantine requirement made him doubt the match would go ahead as currently scheduled.
“Having the Tests in Sydney and Melbourne there won’t be the time frames for quarantine to occur before coming to Western Australia so I’d suggest the possibility of a Test match in WA is very slim.”
“If there’s no chance of coming here (Perth) without prolonged quarantine, it just wont occur.”
The PerthTest is due to start on Januray 14 and follows the Sydney Test on Janury 5.
When asked about the possibility of Tasmania being given the Fifth Test, Minister Colbeck was in full support of for the idea.
“I know that my Premier (Peter Gutwein) is very interested.
The likelihood of the Afghanistan Test happening is extremely slim and in fact I don’t think will happen so Tasmania would love to have a Test match and love to see the Australian captain playing a Test match and captaining in his home state.”
“I expect my premier is talking to those he needs to talk to see what he can arrange.”
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Originally published as The impending reopening of Tasmania's borders has boosted hopes of Hobart hosting an Ashes Test
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