Adelaide Strikers flee South Australia, players in isolation due to COVID-19 outbreak
Players could soon be on the move all over the country as Sydney offers to host the first Test against India with South Australia grappling with a COVID-19 outbreak.
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Chaos has engulfed cricket’s summer plans, with doubt hanging over the first Test in Adelaide and a desperate rush on to urgently get affected superstars to safer borders.
The Adelaide Strikers were on Monday night preparing to flee South Australia for Coffs Harbour on the NSW North Coast to ensure the Big Bash can start on time, while there were plans being put in place to try and get Australian ODI stars like Cameron Green and Matthew Wade on their way to Sydney as soon as possible.
In the case of a full-blown emergency breaking out in Adelaide, the Sydney Cricket Ground has offered itself as a potential back-up Test venue for the series opener blockbuster against India starting on December 17.
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Australian Test captain Tim Paine was among those ordered to wear masks and self-isolate as Tasmanian, West Australian and Queensland players who had been in Adelaide until last week playing in the Sheffield Shield competition were forced into immediate 14-day self-quarantine.
The shock call has implications for stars like Green and Wade who are meant to be joining Australia’s white ball camp in Sydney on Sunday.
It’s too early to say whether the day-night Test showpiece in Adelaide due to start in a month is under threat, but Cricket Australia will be anxiously monitoring the case numbers over the coming 48 hours in case the cluster grows.
Currently Adelaide Oval can host 27,000 fans, and Cricket Australia will be desperate to avoid playing in front of empty stadiums.
“We have undertaken extensive contingency planning based on numerous scenarios as we continue to prepare for the upcoming Test match between Australia and India starting on December 17,” said South Australian Cricket boss, Keith Bradshaw.
The SCG, which has never hosted a pink ball game, is waiting in the wings – however, doesn’t expect to be called on.
“It’s highly unlikely. South Australia has excellent testing and contact tracing. If the worst was to happen we are here to help cricket,” said SCG Chairman, Tony Shepherd.
Cricket Australia officials worked feverishly behind the scenes on Monday and were expected to make swift decisions following a meeting of key heavyweights in the evening.
It’s understood the Stikers BBL team coached by Jason Gillespie will escape Adelaide for Coffs Harbour on Tuesday morning so they can train and continue to live normally in NSW for two weeks before their competition opener in Hobart on December 13.
It’s preferable to the Strikers having to spend 14 days in quarantine in Tasmania.
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia officials are confident white ball squad players including South Australian Kane Richardson, WA star Ashton Agar and Queenslander Marnus Labuschagne, as well as Green and Wade will be allowed to travel early to Sydney despite being ordered into self-isolation in their respective states.
The fact all Shield players were in a biosecurity bubble in Adelaide and restricted from mixing with the community should help the cause with the respected Government officials.
News Corp understands Tasmanian players who returned from playing Sheffield Shield matches in Adelaide last week, were sent text messages from Cricket Tasmania on Monday morning instructing them they must self-isolate at home, start wearing face masks, report for COVID tests and await a potential call from State Government health officials.
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WA players delayed their return to avoid the state’s quarantine restrictions which were lifted on Friday. They flew into the state from Adelaide on Saturday but were contacted by government officials on Sunday and told to self isolate and prepare for further instructions.
Police visited the home of at least one player to check the instructions were being followed and local cricket authorities were meeting with the police on Monday to ascertain what they need do.
“Following the State’s border closure to South Australia, WA players and staff who arrived from Adelaide on Saturday afternoon are currently undergoing 14 days of self-quarantine,” the WACA said in a statement.
“ … All players are undergoing COVID-19 testing.
“The WACA is working closely with the relevant authorities to determine the best means of approach for player management over the two weeks.”
Originally published as Adelaide Strikers flee South Australia, players in isolation due to COVID-19 outbreak
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