Australia’s cricket tour to South Africa in March has been called off due to the coronavirus pandemic in the host country.
Cricket Australia confirmed next month’s three-Test series due to start on March 3 will not go ahead as the hosts struggle to contain the virus.
The cancellation is a massive blow for Tim Paine’s men who could now miss out on a place in the final of the inaugural world Test championship.
“Due to the public health situation in South Africa, which includes a second wave and new variant of the virus, and following extensive due diligence with medical experts, it has become clear that travelling from Australia to South Africa at this current time poses an unacceptable level of health and safety risk to our players, support staff and the community,” said Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia’s interim CEO.
“We acknowledge the significant amount of work by CSA in planning for the tour, during which we made it clear that CA was prepared to take on additional cost and effort to make the series happen.
“This decision has not been made lightly and we are extremely disappointed, especially given the importance of continuing international cricket at this time, our valued relationship with CSA, and our aspirations to compete in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship.”
Cricket Australia said they hoped to play the series at a later date.
“As difficult and disappointing a decision as this is, especially for Justin (Langer), Tim (Paine) and the team, we have a duty of care to our people and their health and safety can’t be compromised.
“We look forward to playing the series against CSA at a date to be confirmed in due course and we send CSA and the people of South Africa our very best wishes for a successful rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine and a return to normality soon.”
Australia’s bid to earn a spot in the world Test championship is now out of their hands.
New Zealand are in the box seat to secure one of the spots, while the four-Test series between India and England will determine who snares the other spot.
India, England and Australia are all in the mix for that spot depending on the result of that series.
CA isn’t expected to send any of Australia’s Test stars to the five-match T20 tour of NZ, given they already stated they wouldn’t make changes even if the Test series in South Africa got cancelled.
But coach Justin Langer, who was due to go to South Africa with the Test team, could now coach the T20 outfit in NZ.
Chufortah
Guest
SA Rugby and SA Cricket probably need to work or a consistent strategy.
Micko
Roar Rookie
That’d be great Pierro if that could happen. Although everybody playing a month or so of Shield cricket would be great.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
I would assume that you are not operating the WACA because I think that they need to make a profit (they are not a charity). Objective 1 : Make a profit so that other Objectives can be delivered Objective 2 : See above
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
But then again this is the same collective of “minds” that missed a meeting in London with an anchor sponsor because they partied too heavily the night before ( fact).. Obviously that’s the SA cricket board.. Or an Australian Board that handed down obscenely inappropriately heavy punishments to 3 fine cricketers for an error in judgement and hung them out publically to dry.. So yeah maybe it’s not so surprising.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Spot on Jeff.. Even here we discussed and concluded weeks if not months ago that relocating the series to Aus was a viable, workable, realistic option especially given the glaringly obvious challenges South Africa faces right now….. They could then have simply swopped out venues for the next series to balance it out.. Now it’s been postponed and nobody has a clue including the postponers..( I call them procrastinators).. As to exactly when it’s to happen and we now end up in a setup which spurned this article and Aus goes into a very important series completely undercooked.. Geez between the 2 boards there are about 20 minds that could have foreseen this possibility/probability and applied said minds..
Tanmoy K.
Guest
Covid-19 scenario in India is now much better since January, only around 100 peoples are dying everyday, on the contrary around 1200 in UK and 500 in SA are dying. Compare the numbers considering the population of those countries.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
@JN. This whole thing seems like an administrative mess. A breakdown in communications. Agree CSA has absorbed sunk costs re pre-planning. But it seems both Boards had different and conflicting requirements - I think we have all been recognising this from a distance for some weeks, so why did it/has it descended to this point? There were surely contingency options that could have been implemented given what were clearly different expectations as to what would be acceptable re health logistics. And I think those expectations go beyond just the Boards; clearly there is national influence there as to what is/isn't accepted by the local communities/govts/health officials. It seems to me that neither side had the balls to recognise the gulf between the competing expectations and rather they just let it drag on to what would become an inevitable position of being too far apart to make something happen. Now it becomes a blame game, pointing fingers exercise and political. Dumb.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Not clear on what you mean by that? The WACA is working very hard to retain its core member base and secondly grow it. The WACA's biggest challenge in the last few years has been trying to demonstrate that membership will bring guaranteed international content. This Covid period has obviously been an existential challenge, but even outside of Covid, the "guarantee" of regular matches in Perth has been an issue. Perth has missed out on Tests twice in 6 years. So back to the original discussion point, getting Tests (especially a 3 Test series at last minute re SA) would be a major outcome for the WACA's longer term plans for securing membership and therefore certainty of financial support, irrespective of financial returns for a particular year. Hence back to my original comment; It's in the WACA's longer term interest to simply secure international cricket right now, rather than chase an immediate specific event profit margin, as a venue/operator such as Perth Stadium would be focused on.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Being virulent and being racist are different things. Perhaps use the word virulent next time! PS: What do us Australians owe the Saffers?
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Being virulent is different to being r*cist! PS: What do us Australians owe the Saffers?
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
That WACA policy seems to be working out for them so far?
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Stuff 'em. :silly:
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Yes.. The price has been high indeed.. The Bok Brand so unbelievably valuable globally really but especially here at home has been shredded.. SA the only SH country in 2019 to have a positive bank balance now teetering under debt.. Only way back is to be playing... And winning.. That's easier said than done..
Micko
Roar Rookie
I do feel for SA rugby administrators. The B&I Lions tour is one of the weirdest concepts in international sport: a rare composite team made up of four (usually rival) nations, going on a tour that’s being held only once every dozen years to a specific country (rotating between SA, Aus, NZ every four years) makes postponing one very precarious! The cricket on the other hand could easily be 12 months away with full crowds again. So good luck for the rugby guys because they’ll need some luck in the next few months! :thumbup:
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Anyway my final word on this.. The tour is only postponed.. Surely far better than pulling an England and going home mid tour...this is sensible... Same should happen with the BI Lions tour..
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Deal.. :happy:
Micko
Roar Rookie
Nah all good. I know you've been consistent in your position on it. :thumbup: And yes, better to be played with full crowds so you can give our guys the bird all you like (they do deserve it after the sandpaper!)...just don't bring their wives (and their past dating history) into it! :thumbup:
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Just for the record Micko and it’s in black n white here on this site.. A year ago I criticized SA Rugby for its decision.. A month ago I posted right here that Aus cricket should take an immediate decision and present SA Cricket with a fait accompli.. Either play this series in Aus or call it off now.. Certainly within my own circle of mates that seemed to be the general consensus too.. But look vaccinations have begun to roll out here and I firmly believe within 6 months these conversations will be in the past.. Anyway I really couldn’t get excited about a tour by Aus without us sitting in the stands giving your guys the bird. Just not the same.. :laughing:
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Well if the gate revenue was to go to CSA, all the more reason for CSA to play in Australia given there would be no crowds at SA venues. One doesn't have to be on the WACA Board to know that the WACA sees an investment in its member base by having international matches this season, whether it makes an immediate financial profit from such Tests or not.
Fred
Guest
PD has been virulent in his attacks on South Africans of the past couple of weeks. It's unwarranted. I say that as an Australian.