David Warner on hold, with Sydney Test likely to go to the MCG

David Warner will not be able to play in the MCG Test, even if he had been declared fit.

The Sydney Cricket Ground has hosted an official Test match every summer since the 1971-72 season when Australia hosted the Rest of the World

David Warner will not be able to play in the MCG Test, even if he had been declared fit.

Cricket Australia has confirmed that he and Sean Abbott can’t rejoin the squad until January 1 because of quarantine restrictions.

“Warner and Abbott spent time in Sydney outside the team’s bio-secure hub to recover from injury. While neither player has been in a specific hotspot as outlined by NSW Health, Cricket Australia’s biosecurity protocols do not allow them to rejoin the squad in time for the Boxing Day Test,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.

“Warner has not fully recovered from a groin injury suffered in the Dettol ODI Series against India and would not have been available for the second Vodafone Test match, while Abbott has recovered from a calf strain sustained during Australia A’s tour match against India and would have been available for selection for the Boxing Day Test.

“The pair travelled from Sydney to Melbourne to continue their rehabilitation given the changing public health situation in Sydney at the time. No additional players will be added to the squad for the Boxing Day Test.”

Warner could be available to play in the third Test, which now seems certain to be moved from Sydney to Melbourne.

If the worst happens it will be the first time since the summer of 1971-72 there has been no Test cricket at the SCG — although that year there was a five-day game between Australia and the Rest of the World XI

It is expected a decision will be made on the future of the game at the SCG on Wednesday or Thursday at the latest.

There were no official Tests in 1969-70 as Bill Lawry’s side was in Sri Lanka, India and South Africa that summer.

It is understood some players partners and children will also be blocked from spending Christmas with their loved ones.

The players’ family Christmas lunch is one of the modern traditions of the Boxing Day Test.

The most likely outcome is the city that watched mournfully as its AFL grand final was played out in another state could be in for a Christmas bonanza.

It will be a blow to Sydney, which bailed out Cricket Australia in its time of need, but the decision rests on when Queensland will open its borders and the government has indicated it will not do that until January 8.

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Cricket needs an answer before then.

The players, who have been in quarantine, would presumably be fine but the hundreds of broadcasters and the like who move with the show would be stuck.

There is little likelihood the Sydney and Brisbane Tests will be swapped to allow Sydney more time to clear itself of the virus.

There is an outside chance the last two Tests could be played at the SCG and Brisbane excluded but it is unlikely.

Players were tested for COVID-19 when they arrived in Melbourne from Adelaide on Tuesday.

The Queensland government let cricket down at the start of the Indian tour by back tracking on a verbal agreement to let India and Australia fly into that state at the last minute. NSW stepped up and allowed the teams to quarantine at Olympic Park and host the first part of the tour.

Stuart Ayres, the NSW minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism, told The Australian they would have a clearer picture of where they stood by lunch time Wednesday. His government did the right thing by cricket at the start of the summer, but he refused to be drawn into a slanging match.

He has been in contact with CA chief executive Nick Hockley and chairman Earl Eddings.

“We’ve got on really well with cricket, I’ve tried to avoid most of the interstate rivalry over the course of this,” he said. “People are focused on handling a pandemic as opposed to scoring cheap political points.

“I’ve found cricket to be incredibly professional, Nick and Earl have been good to deal with. We helped out when Queensland pulled the pin on white ball cricket, I am not going to say they owe us but we need to work with them as we need to be able to get to a Sydney Test which is an important start of Australian summer.

“We need to start 2021 on the front foot with some good cricket in Sydney.”

CA board, executive and steering committee – among others – met on Tuesday and will almost certainly have to make a call when the numbers come in from NSW.

“We will have a pretty good idea of how we are tracking on Wednesday afternoon,” Ayres said. “Once we are able to do that we will be in a good position to confirm we are having the Test in Sydney and once we are able to confirm we are able to do that then Cricket Australia move into a discussion with the Queensland government to do with the transport arrangements between NSW and Queensland.

“I don’t think they’re insurmountable but the broadcasters might have some people they can’t move from state to state and they’re a little frustrated but cricket has to work out how it wants to do the season.

“Cricket’s overwhelming preference is to have a Test match in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. I think that should be our objective until that’s absolutely not achievable.”

The Australian players flew into Melbourne with a one-nil lead in the series, with Steve Smith returning to a ground where he averages 113.

“I think my Boxing Day record is my best in Australia of all the grounds,” Smith said. “I like batting at the MCG, those big occasions, I like to try and make the most of them and help the team out.

“There’s nothing like the thrill or you get the shivers down your spine when you walk out to bat on Boxing Day.

“The crowd yelling and it’s like a dream come true in a way. As a kid I always wanted to play in a Boxing Day Test match.

“I was always watching the Boxing Day Tests at home with the family after Christmas. And to walk out on Boxing Day and play, you get the shivers down your spine and the hairs on the back of your neck raise up and it’s just a great feeling.”