Ashes: Perth will not be hosting series final, confirms Cricket Australia

The final Test match of the Ashes series will be relocated elsewhere

By Web Desk
December 06, 2021
Pat Cummins (L) and Joe Root (R) - Photo: Twitter

Cricket Australia on Monday confirmed that the final Test match of the Ashes series won't be played in Perth and will be relocated due to strict Covid-19 rules imposed in Western Australia.

Cricket Australia disclosed that negotiations with Western Australia and Western Cricket had decided against allowing the final Ashes Test match to be played as scheduled at the Optus Stadium.

"While absolutely every effort was made to ensure the final Test match of the series could be staged in Perth, border controls, quarantine requirements and the complexities of staging a five-Test series in a tight schedule have meant it is unfortunately not possible to align the respective priorities of the WA Government, CA and WA Cricket," CA said in a statement, as quoted by cricket.com.au.

"These complexities also mean that any suggestion of changing the order of the venues would not be feasible.

"Discussions about a replacement venue for the fifth Test match are underway," CA added.   

The finale, scheduled to start on January 14, will now be shifted elsewhere with Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Canberra seen as possible venues to host the finale.

Following the emergence of the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron, Western Australia premier Mark McGowan had made it clear about the strict rules to be followed by people coming in from New South Wales.

According to the rules, players, players' families, as well as match and broadcast staff traveling to Perth will be required to complete 14 days quarantine period after arrival in Western Australia.

"It's up to them whether they want to adhere to those rules or not," McGowan said at the time, reported by cricket.com.au.

Australia will take on England in the first Test match of the Ashes series at the Gabba on Wednesday.





Comments