Australia’s Test tour to South Africa cancelled due to safety concerns
Australia’s hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship Final has taken a massive hit following a bombshell announcement.
Australia’s Test series against South Africa has been postponed due to an “unacceptable” risk posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Australian Test side was scheduled to travel to South Africa later this month for a three-match series, with a 19-player squad announced last week.
However, South Africa has endured a tumultuous second wave of COVID-19 this summer, recording thousands of new cases every day throughout December.
The country has been battling a mutant strain of the virus and currently has a positivity rate with its testing of 10 per cent.
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On Tuesday evening, Cricket Australia confirmed the Test series had been postponed because the wellbeing of staff and players could not be guaranteed.
The announcement comes as a significant blow to Australia’s chances of qualifying for the inaugural World Test Championship Final later this year.
Australia needed to win the three-match series for any chance of qualifying for the historic match, which also largely depends on the outcome of the upcoming England vs India series.
As reported by The Daily Telegraph’s Ben Horne, Australia’s slow over rate during the Boxing Day Test against India could deny them a spot in the Test Championship Final.
Australia was deducted four Test Championship points for maintaining a slow over rate in the second match against India, and that penalty could prove critical when the final tally is unveiled.
Today we informed Cricket South Africa that we believe we have no choice but to postpone the forthcoming Qantas Tour of South Africa due to the coronavirus pandemic. Full statement ð pic.twitter.com/mYjqNpkYjp
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) February 2, 2021
Aust tour of SAf is off. Official. That also effectively eliminates Aust from World Test Championship #AUSvSA
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) February 2, 2021
New Zealand now the first team to qualify for the WTC final, and another decider at Lordâs. Australiaâs hopes rest on some mathematical miracles between India and England.
— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) February 2, 2021
CA interim chief executive Nick Hockley said in a statement: “Due to the public health situation in South Africa, which includes a second wave and new variant of the virus, and following extensive due diligence with medical experts, it has become clear that travelling from Australia to South Africa at this current time poses an unacceptable level of health and safety risk to our players, support staff and the community.
“We acknowledge the significant amount of work by CSA in planning for the tour, during which we made it clear that CA was prepared to take on additional cost and effort to make the series happen.
“This decision has not been made lightly and we are extremely disappointed, especially given the importance of continuing international cricket at this time, our valued relationship with CSA, and our aspirations to compete in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship.
“However, we have been consistent since the start of the pandemic that the health and safety of our people is always our number one priority and unfortunately despite best efforts to agree a biosecurity plan, the risks are simply too great at this time.
“As difficult and disappointing a decision as this is, especially for Justin, Tim and the team, we have a duty of care to our people and their health and safety can’t be compromised.
“We look forward to playing the series against CSA at a date to be confirmed in due course and we send CSA and the people of South Africa our very best wishes for a successful rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine and a return to normality soon.”
ESPNcricinfo journalist Daniel Brettig revealed Cricket South Africa was eager for the series to take place on home soil, ruling out the possibility of Australia hosting the three Tests.
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Australian Cricketers’ Association interim chief executive Joe Connellan said: “While disappointing for both playing groups and cricket lovers all over the world, this is a prudent decision considering the prevalence and virulence of the COVID-19 strain in South Africa.
“The Australian players were ready for the contest with South Africa, especially to support South African cricket at this time with the added challenge of making the final of the ICC Test Championship.
“But this is the right call given the COVID data coming out of South Africa. It’s a decision based on the advice of the medical and health experts and that’s why the ACA supports it.
“The ACA offers its assistance to CA in exploring new options with Cricket South Africa for this series to be rescheduled.”
The Australian Test side has not toured South Africa since the infamous ball-tampering saga in early 2018.
The Age journalist Daniel Cherny tweeted: “Obviously understand the decision but left with a feeling of sadness on several fronts. Some great cricketers having the best years of their careers watered down badly because of the pandemic.”
AAP reporter Scott Bailey posted: “Postponing South Africa the only choice for mine unfortunately. Imagine if a player caught the mutant strain of the virus there. Even worse, what if a hotel quarantine worker contracted the strain from them & prompted the lockdowns Brisbane and Perth have had off one mutant case?”
AUSTRALIA MEN’S SERIES POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19
Two ODI matches vs New Zealand
Two-Test series vs Bangladesh
Three-match ODI series vs Zimbabwe
Three-match T20 series vs West Indies
T20 World Cup
Test match vs Afghanistan
Three-match ODI series vs New Zealand
Three-Test series vs South Africa