Ashes 2021-22: Follow the latest updates on which venue will host the fifth Test

Hobart curators have showed how confident they are of denying Sydney and Melbourne to host the state’s first ever Ashes Test.

Hobart curators have picked out their first ever Ashes Test pitch as confidence rises they’ll be handed the series finale under lights.

However, with Cricket Australia to make a final decision on the new hosts as early as Friday, NSW officials are still pushing hard and have given Australian players personal assurances that the SCG would provide a lively pink ball deck if Sydney can snatch the historic day-nighter.

It’s understood ticket sales for the Boxing Day Test and Big Bash matches in Melbourne are down, and there is concern about low crowds if the MCG was to be handed a second Test for the summer.

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As first revealed by News Corp a week ago, Tasmania are firming to win their first ever Ashes Test match after Cricket Australia stripped Perth of hosting rights.

Hobart curators have even identified which pitch they would use for the Test starting January 14 if given the nod.

Victorian cricket officials are pessimistic about their chances, but NSW were still pulling out all stops.

Hobart has picked its pitch in preparation for the historic Ashes Test. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

Premier Dominic Perrottet called CA chief executive Nick Hockley to push Sydney’s case for back-to-back Tests in January, while other SCG powerbrokers even went to the lengths of personally speaking with Australian players to guarantee them extra grass on the wicket and a super-charged pink ball deck.

Broadcasters would rather Melbourne or Sydney, while players might prefer to stay in Sydney too if they knew the pitch would be a good cricket wicket.

Cricket Australia chief Hockley told SEN Radio that a decision would be made soon as high-powered meetings took place on Thursday following multimillion-dollar bids made by Tasmania, NSW and Victoria.

It’s understood Queensland and South Australia decided against submitting bids.

There were fears expressed by Australian players including Pat Cummins at his pre-Brisbane press conference this week, about Sydney’s Test pitch being low and slow.

However, NSW and SCG officials are adamant a pink ball surface would be prepared completely differently to the normal New Year’s Day Test, with extra grass to be left on.

There would be just four days between Tests if Sydney was to secure back-to-back Tests to finish off the series, and SCG curator Adam Lewis already has a firm plan.

“We’d keep more grass on the pitch for the first day of a pink ball Test like they do at Adelaide and it’d be a little firmer than normal, with early bounce,” said Lewis.

“The Sydney humidity will see the ball move around, especially as sun sets and then night falls.”

Australian players led by Cummins have told Cricket Australia that picking a venue for a pink ball Test cannot be just about money – and the pitch is a primary consideration.

There is a feeling there has been too many slow and boring day-night Sheffield Shield matches played on ordinary wickets around Australia.

Why Punter, Boon didn’t join Hobart campaign

- Ben Horne

Tasmania remains in the box seat to pull off a David over Goliath Ashes triumph, as Cricket Australia mulled over bids from around the country to host the fifth Test.

It’s understood the Victorian, NSW and Tasmanian Governments all made their pitches to Cricket Australia bosses on Wednesday, and a decision could come inside the next couple of days, or at the latest next week.

Tasmania were on Wednesday night considered to be the favourites to secure Hobart’s first Ashes Test, after heavyweight backing from Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Multiple cricket sources confirmed on Wednesday night Hobart was firming to be awarded the Test, unless there was a late change of heart from Cricket Australia who met last night.

A bronze statue of former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting outside Bellerive Oval. Picture: AAP/Dave Hunt

Tasmania have been favourites for at least a week, but Cricket Australia’s decision to take the match out to market invited the prospect the minnows could get swamped by multimillion-dollar plays from the NSW and Victorian Governments.

Morrison declared he is behind Tasmania’s bid to knock off the big markets of Sydney and Melbourne to secure the fifth Test which has been put out to market by Cricket Australia.

“As for the fifth Test, I’m in the Tassie camp. I think it would be great to see Tasmania share in this Ashes series,” said the PM.

“The reasons for not going to Perth are well understood. I’m looking forward to the Sydney Test, I’m looking forward to the Adelaide Test, and of course looking forward to the Brisbane Test and the Melbourne Test … and for there to be one in Tassie I think would be great.

“Particularly as there was the Afghanistan Test (scheduled for Hobart in November) which obviously didn’t proceed for clear (human rights) reasons. I know they’ll put on a great show and it’d be great for Tasmania.”

Tasmania is a small state that needs big voices but their two biggest are out of play in the lobbying for the fifth Ashes Test.

Ricky Ponting is in an awkward spot because he works for host broadcaster Channel 7 who want the Test to be in Melbourne, while David Boon isn’t in a position to comment as the ICC match referee for the Ashes series.

Legendary Tasmanian and ICC referee David Boon’s hands are tied. Picture: Patrick Hamilton/AFP

There’s little doubt Ponting and Boon would love the Test to go to their home state, and Ponting at least may yet still add his voice to the debate during commentary of the first Test.

But with both for now reluctantly as silent as their statues which stand outside Bellerive Oval, it was left to 27-match Test bowling star Ben Hilfenhaus to sing Hobart’s praises on Wednesday as Tasmania steels itself for a multimillion-dollar bidding war with the NSW and Victorian Governments.

Hilfenhaus – an outstanding Australian cricketer in his own right – implored Cricket Australia to think of the next Ponting and Boon they could inspire and influence by sharing the Ashes around the country.

“It’d be amazing. If you look at the history we’ve never had an Ashes here in Hobart and growing up as a kid every kid’s dream is to be part of an Ashes and for that to be here and give the kids an opportunity to see that live and experience it would be amazing for them,” said Hilfenhaus.

“The Ashes is huge, it really is. It’s the pinnacle of cricket. For the locals and the state to experience that and what it feels like would be an amazing thing. You can’t describe how much energy is around unless you’re there and feeling it.

“It’s about exposing the longer form of the game to the state. We get deprived at times because we don’t have the crowd capacity of these other stadiums but I don’t think that should hinder our chances of getting this Test match. Look what we’ve done for Australian cricket. We deserve the opportunity.

“It’s about getting the game around the country, exposing it to as many people as possible. A lot of kids who have the dream of seeing or being part of an Ashes and a lot of them don’t get that opportunity, because it’s always played across the ditch so to speak.”

Originally published as Ashes 2021-22: Follow the latest updates on which venue will host the fifth Test