Australia’s South Africa tour concerns grow after Covid outbreak

The pandemic that has caused havoc in South Africa is affecting the BBL and causing concerns ahead of an Australian tour in February.

A sign at Newlands stadium in Cape Town after the first ODI between South Africa and England was postponed due to a positive coronavirus test

England’s tour of South Africa has been abandoned after it proved impossible to play the three match ODI series because of a string of positive COVID-19 tests in both camps and among hotel staff.

The first match had been moved from Friday, to Sunday and then Monday before being abandoned. There was some hope of playing the other two before England’s plane left on Thursday but that proved unfounded.

Teams put out a joint statement over night.

“The decision was taken jointly by the two boards to ensure the mental and physical health and welfare of players from both teams,” the statement said. “CSA and the ECB will now work together to determine when the three-match series, which forms part of the ICC Cricket Men’s Super League, can take place in the future.”

Kugandrie Govender, CSA’s acting CEO, said: “The concern over the mental health impact of recent events on all involved is not one that we as CSA or the ECB take lightly and the decision to postpone the tour is the most responsible and reasonable course of action for us.

“I would like to thank the ECB for the continued positive relations and we look forward to hosting the England team in the near future.”

Australian cricket is watching the situatiom umfold with alarm.

Australia is scheduled to tour South Africa in February for three Tests and there must be concerns about biosecurity controls in the country which is battling to control the pandemic.

Of more immediate worry is the group of England and South Africa players due to come to Australia at week’s end for the Big Bash League.

Players had already begun to withdraw from the domestic tournament which begins on Thursday. Jonny Bairstow has been called up for national duties, but Tom Banton and Tom Curran have both said they could not endure another quarantine on arrival.

Allrounder Curran was supposed to be on the charter plane ahead of joining the Sixers

“I‘m really sorry not to be playing in this year’s Big Bash,” Curran said in a statement.

“As you‘ll already know, it’s been a very challenging year and I’ve been in (biosecurity) bubbles since July.

“I feel very lucky to play for the Sixers, I have loved my time with you all over the last two seasons and I can promise you, this decision was not taken lightly.

“I will hopefully be back for many years to come, recharged and ready to go again, but for now I just need some time, normality, see family and be home.“

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Sam Billings (Thunder), Lewis Gregory (Heat), Jason Roy (Strikers) and Danny Briggs (Strikers) are the England players due to fly out from South Africa but there may now be issues about their trips because there have been positive tests in the England camp.

Players have to pass a test 72 hours before boarding the flight to Australia in a few days.

Brisbane Heat’s Afghanistan import Mujeeb Ur Rahman was in hospital in that city after testing positive late last week.

If Australia chose not to tour South Africa for pandemic reasons it will at least address the controversial situation created by the decision to schedule a T20 tour of New Zealand at the same time.

The division of duties is setting the nation’s cricket up for a fall by asking coaches and players to choose between T20 and Test cricket for their country. Much effort has gone in to ensuring the same does not occur where the IPL is involved.

While players would always opt for Tests over T20s there are extraordinary circumstances. Next year there is a World Cup which would excuse some from opting to prepare for that particularly when a tour of New Zealand would allow them to see their players and not quarantine.

Justin Langer pointed out this week that had Pat Cummins not been rested from the current T20 series he would not have had a chance to return home until half way through next year.

South African cricket is in a political and financial crisis and nations accept that they have to take risks to help each other out. The England tour was said to be worth $6m to the hosts.

Director of South African cricket Graeme Smith was hopeful they could host the last two ODIs.

“We are deeply regretful of the situation we find ourselves in after the amount of time and energy that has been put in place to host a successful tour,” he said. “We are in continuous talks with the ECB as we navigate the situation under the guidance of our combined medical teams.”

England managing director Ashley Giles said his side was working with the hosts.

“We regret that we are unable to play in today‘s ODI, but the welfare of the players and support staff is our primary concern and while we await the results of further tests the medical advice from both teams was that this game should not take place,” he said.

“We remain in constant dialogue with Cricket South Africa and will continue to work closely with them to determine how best to move forward.”