Sydney Test may be cancelled as COVID-19 causes chaos with cricket schedule

In what would be a worst-case scenario, Sydneysiders may be robbed of watching live cricket as COVID-19 causes havoc in the Harbour City.

Will Sydneysiders miss out on the cricket?

Cricket Australia is reportedly considering contingency plans should the New Year’s Test in Sydney need to be delayed or cancelled altogether, but has not rushed into making any changes just yet and is hopeful the schedule will remain untouched.

A fresh COVID-19 outbreak in the northern beaches has put NSW on high alert as the state’s premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a raft of new lockdown restrictions for Greater Sydney.

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CA is hopeful it will still be able to stage the third Test between Australia and India, scheduled to begin on January 7, in Sydney, but is preparing for the fact that may not be possible.

As reported by The Daily Telegraph, if the virus situation worsens, the governing body may need to scrap the Test and return for a second match in Adelaide or hold two Tests in Melbourne or Brisbane.

As the schedule stands, the fourth Test in Brisbane is slated to begin on January 15, but that could be brought forward to give Sydney extra time to get the coronavirus situation under control and allow for the SCG to host what would then be the fourth Test of the series.

Dark clouds are hovering over the Sydney Test.

However, CA interim CEO Nick Hockley said no changes had yet been made to the schedule.

“The third Vodafone Test is more than two-and-a-half weeks away, which provides us with time to assess the evolving public health situation on the northern beaches of Sydney,” Hockley said in a statement.

“We have made no changes to our schedule and our preference remains to play the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“Cricket Australia has developed a solid track record of delivery throughout this most challenging of summers and will continue to make appropriate and proportionate decisions in consultation with our biosecurity team, governments, State & Territory Associations, the Australian Cricketers’ Association, our partners and venues.”

India is unlikely to want to play two Tests at the fast and bouncy Gabba, particularly after being humiliated on a fair wicket in Adelaide as Virat Kohli and Co. were bowled out for just 36 in their second innings, gifting Australia an incredible eight-wicket win.

It was only recently the SCG hosted more than 30,000 fans for the third T20 match between Australia and India.

The second Test of the series starts on December 26 at the MCG.