Cricket Australia has a major decision on its hands after the ICC’s decision to push back the World T20 tournament leaves it dangerously close to the 2021-22 Ashes series.
Originally scheduled for India, the country’s COVID-19 crisis has seen the prestigious tournament moved to the UAE and Oman. It will now run between October 17 and November 14.
“Whilst we are incredibly disappointed not to be hosting the event in India, the decision gives us the certainty we need to stage the event in a country that is a proven international host of multi-team events in a biosecure environment,” acting ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said in a statement.
Australia’s current quarantine policy for international returnees means Australian cricketers would be freed from their 14 days in hotel quarantine just nine days before Day 1 of the first Ashes Test on December 8, should they reach the World T20 final.
Given the dramatic circumstances surrounding the IPL’s postponement in May, in which players were left stranded in India after a decision to close the borders to the country, even being allowed back into Australia is far from certain.
Even in a best-case scenario, less than two weeks’ worth of preparation for a Test series is far from ideal, let alone one as iconic as the Ashes. It would also force Australia to field a second-string XI for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, which starts on November 27 in Hobart.
Players expected to feature at the World T20 include star fast-bowling trio Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, batsmen Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner, and possibly even rising all-rounder Cameron Green, who made his limited-overs debut in an ODI against India last summer.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has a similar decision on its hands, with star players Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer, among others, in the same boat.
Australia has never won a World T20 since its inception in 2007, with its best finish a runner-up position in the 2010 tournament, when they were beaten in the final by England.
Bloke7
Roar Rookie
What ashes preparation?
Marty
Roar Rookie
Interesting one for CA. Everyone likes winning but if we lose a close Ashes due to players being unavailable/underprepared because they’ve been sent off to play T20 rubbish then the Australian public will be calling for heads, and I’ll be one of them.
Paul
Roar Guru
It's certainly a stronger bowling than batting side, Tim. I was counting on Sean Abbott continuing his form with bat from last season, where he made the abandoned Saffers tour. I was also thinking the Afghanistan Test's in Tassie, so the pitch will either be a road or will be fast bowler friendly. If it's the latter, I'm not sure the Afghani attack's good enough to take advantage of the conditions. If it's the former, we sould have enough batting in the top 5 to make a defendable total
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Or we could hold the Ashes in the UAE and avoid the quarantine. :silly:
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Seems a batter or two light, but still pretty strong.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
I don’t wish Australia to lose just prefer watching test cricket than the hit & giggle version
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
That's a good way to go. Let's hope we don't make semis.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Aussies will be lucky to make top 4 Plenty of time for test team
Reddy
Roar Rookie
If Australia don't want to host in 2022, I nominate New Zealand to host. T20 is my favourite format. Plus we haven't hosted a t20 world cup before.
Josso
Guest
My worry is how m7ch pressure the icc puts on the ACB to field a full strength team. This is a showcase tournament, already impacted by change of venue, and no doubt covid, and the icc will want their pound of flesh. That leaves the ACB either delaying the ashes or pulling rank with the icc..... Delaying the ashes start obviously the easiest.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Probably right.
JGK
Roar Guru
Well yes, sometimes you have to work with what you've got. But resting players in order to blood other players against a weaker opponent is very unAustralian.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Arguably Australia did give out baggy greens willy nilly during wsc as well as the mid 1980s with the defections to the rebel tours, necessity being the mother of invention and all that.
Paul
Roar Guru
Good to see the Roar keeping up with the times. I wrote about this exact scenario 5 weeks ago. https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/05/21/cricket-australia-need-to-get-it-right-for-the-next-summer/ Assuming Australia and England make the finals, the players will still be right to go for the First Ashes Test. Yes they’re going to have to quarantine, but for sure that will be in a bio secure bubble and they’ll still be able to train and prepare. As for the Test side for the Afghanistan Test, I’d have the following; Marcus Harris, Will Puckovski, Marnus Labuschagne/Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Sean Abbott, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Michael Neser, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, Mitchell Swepson, Josh Inglis and Scott Boland. In other words, this is a nothing if managed properly.
Raju Fernando
Roar Rookie
Australia must select separate bowlers for 3 formats. For test jhye cummins hazlewood neser pattinson for odi starc meredith jason jhye stanlake for 20 20 meredith ellis stanlake wes starc
JGK
Roar Guru
Fair enough. I still wouldn't send the Test players though.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Same date, just different venue (previously Ahmedabad).
Paul
Roar Guru
Jeff's right. This WC end date was set months ago, well before the Ashes dates were announced
JGK
Roar Guru
Is it? The article above doesn't read that way.
Brian
Guest
I don't really see a problem England will be in the same boat. If anything not having time to preare would suit a home team used to the conditions more then the away team.