MCG looming as likely venue for a rescheduled third Test between Australia and India

While the NSW Government has pleaded for more time in a bid to hold onto the New Year’s Test, it looks like a losing cause as CA prepare to make a massive call on its fate.

Get ready for back-to-back Tests at the MCG.

NSW officials have pleaded with cricket not to abandon the Sydney Test, but Melbourne remains close to being granted a double-dose of marquee Test cricket.

It’s understood the MCG has already begun internal discussions on how it might turn around a second pitch for a New Year’s Test seven days after hosting Boxing Day, while sources say the fixture would be maintained as the McGrath Foundation’s Pink Test even if it’s transplanted to Melbourne.

Cricket Australia is poised to make its massive call on the fate of Sydney’s SCG showpiece as early as Wednesday, but the NSW Government hopes it will be given longer.

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Get ready for back-to-back Tests at the MCG.

Live case numbers in Sydney were halved for a second consecutive day to come down to just eight on Tuesday, and all traced back to the northern beaches cluster.

But despite the optimism from an infection standpoint, Sydney still appears trapped between a rock and a hard place in regards to holding onto its Test, because Queensland won’t revisit opening its border to NSW until January 8, and cricket officials need to know they can get to Brisbane to finish the series on January 15.

The NSW Government saved the cricket summer from potential disaster back in November when it allowed the Australian and Indian teams to train while in quarantine when, ironically, the Queensland Government had strung CA along and refused.

Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres insists there is no reason why the Sydney Test should be given up on now.

“We are keen to see the Sydney Test proceed in its current time slot,” Mr Ayres told News Corp.

“The current trend of infections is encouraging and we will continue to work with Cricket Australia over the coming days.”

Cricket Australia would want the MCG to honour the McGrath Foundation’s Pink Test.

Cricket Australia has not forgotten the fact they were rescued by the NSW Government, and are desperate for the Test to stay in Sydney, but they have been held to ransom by border closures.

As much as the case numbers might continue to improve in Sydney, the border obstacle is not going to go away in the timeframe CA needs to make its decision.

It’s understood Cricket Australia has ruled out the prospect of flipping the order of the Sydney and Brisbane Tests, leaving the dual Tests in Melbourne as the ever firming favourite.

One other outside option in front of CA would be to take a punt on Sydney, and deal with the consequences of whether or not the NSW and Queensland reopens at the time.

If it does open, then continue onto Brisbane as planned, if not, then a second Test could be played at the SCG if Queensland wasn’t prepared to provide the required exemptions to save their Test match.

Cricket Australia certainly won’t feel they owe Queensland anything after what happened earlier in the summer, but that option seems highly unlikely because it puts enormous pressure on the SCG’s traditional square to turn around two Test quality pitches in a short space of time.

Stuart Ayres has pleased for more time on behalf of the NSW Government.

Not to mention commentators and TV crews could be marooned in Sydney if borders don’t reopen, which could affect the Big Bash League.

There is a week between Boxing Day and New Year’s which would give the MCG the time to produce a second pitch – plus their task is easier because it’s a drop in wicket.

Sydney’s Test has become an icon for a different reason over the past decade as the home of the Pink Test to raise money for breast cancer.

The McGrath Foundation was impacted last year by the bushfire disaster which happened during the summer, and the prospect of losing the Sydney Test would be a major blow to their important fundraising efforts for breast cancer sufferers around the country.

However, it’s understood CA would fight to maintain the Pink Test if it were at the MCG, with plans to zoom Glenn McGrath into the television broadcast coverage during the match to help raise awareness.

McGrath would not have been allowed onto the field to mix with players as in normal years, so is in India on commentary assignment – however, he will fulfil his normal media commitments around the Test and will make several radio and TV appearances.

Originally published as MCG looming as likely venue for a rescheduled third Test between Australia and India