Sydney keeps third Test after Cricket Australia’s late declaration

Sydney will host the Test after a concerted campaign by the NSW government and SCG Trust stopped the game being relocated.

India’s Ravi Jadeja, left, appeals at the MCG in Melbourne on Tuesday as his country defeated Australia in the second Test. Picture: AFP

Sydney will host the third cricket Test against India after a concerted campaign from the NSW government and the SCG Trust stopped the game being relocated to Melbourne because of the northern beaches coronavirus outbreak.

The decision to keep the Test in the NSW capital — after long negotiations involving Cricket Australia, India’s governing body for cricket, the BCCI, two state governments and television and radio broadcasters — was made at 9pm on Tuesday.

Venues NSW chairman Tony Shepherd told The Australian: “We had a full-court press from NSW, government the SCG, the media — everybody on the same team all pushing for the Test.”

Under the agreement, the biosecurity bubble the players are expected to be confined to hotel quarantine in Brisbane for the final Test of the series.

Queensland Health officials said that while travel exemptions would be granted for players, officials and some TV broadcast staff to fly from Sydney to Brisbane on January 12, strict provisions would apply. They would only be allowed to leave their hotel in Brisbane to train at the Gabba and play in the Test.

In a sport where the great batsmen play the ball late, Cricket Australia took that approach to ridiculous levels.

Cameron Green was one of the few Australian batsman to score runs in the second Test against India at the MCG. Picture: Michael Klein

The two teams, who finished the second Test hours before, were uncertain whether they would be flying to Sydney for the Test, which is scheduled to start on January 7.

Broadcasters had trucks idling outside the MCG late last night unsure whether they had to pack their equipment and drive north or leave it in place for another game in Melbourne.

Cricket Australia held a board meeting into the afternoon after its executive took one final check of the temperature. The complications were immense but acting chief executive Nick Hockley held his nerve.

The MCG had been preparing a pitch next to the one where India bounced back to draw level in the series on Tuesday.

Australia, who were beaten on a wicket that would traditionally favour them, will be privately anxious about travelling north to a wicket that favours spin bowling.

India ambushed Tim Paine’s men at the MCG and the locals face major problems with batsmen out of form.

David Warner has been in the nets all week but is struggling to recover from a groin injury. He has said he will play on one leg if necessary.

Former captain Steve Smith is in a batting slump and there is great concern about how to fix things — but India was in the same position after losing the first Test in Adelaide.