Cricket Australia plots an English revival

Kevin Roberts has confirmed that Australia could make a shock coronavirus comeback against England in September.

Australia could face Eoin Morgan’s world champion England team in September Picture: AFP

Kevin Roberts has confirmed that Australia could make a shock coronavirus comeback in the country that has been overwhelmed by it — England.

The Cricket Australia chief executive revealed exclusively to News Corp’s roundtable of Australian sports bosses on Thursday night, that he has this week held talks with ECB counterpart Tom Harrison over biosecurity measures.

Roberts is now rating this summer’s $300 million Indian tour as a “nine out of 10” chance of going ahead and is eager to adopt learnings from Harrison about the unprecedented security bubble England is putting in place to host Pakistan and the West Indies from July.

Australia may borrow from England’s model, but equally, Roberts is hopeful it could pave the way for a stunning tour by Justin Langer’s white ball team in September. Until a couple of weeks ago, Australia’s scheduled tour of England had been completely written off, but Roberts confirmed CA are considering it as the game’s return from the wilderness.

“I think there’s some chance we could send a team over,” Roberts said. “Obviously we won’t jeopardise the safety of the players, but the best test of that is that the West Indian and Pakistan tours of England before we’re due to tour. We hope they go off without a hitch.”

The Australian understands Roberts’ conversation with Harrison on Wednesday night centred on the ECB’s plans to use the Rose Bowl in Southampton and one other ground as biosecurity villages for Pakistan and the West Indies.

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Australia needs the Indian tour this summer to go off without a hitch, and are leaving no stone unturned in their preparation. Roberts is less confident the ICC T20 World Cup in October will go ahead. It’s understood the ICC is looking at February or October next year or October 2022 as potential rescheduling options.

However, the crucial news for Australia is the Indian tour appears safe. “I guess there’s no such thing as certainty in today’s world so I can’t say 10 (out of 10), but I’m going to say nine out of 10,” said Roberts about the prospects of India touring.

“With the variable being, who would know whether we can have crowds … I’d be really surprised if we can’t get the Indian tour away. But I wouldn’t, hand on heart suggest we’ll have full crowds from the start. We’ll just have to see how that goes.”

Roberts admits he has two regrets from his handling of the coronavirus crisis that’s rattled the game over the past month.

First, over-communicating to states about CA’s plans and confusing them. And No 2, not communicating enough with staff, who were stunned when told they would be stood down on just 20 per cent pay after previously having the impression cricket was in a position to ride out the storm.

The Daily Telegraph