Perth’s hopes of hosting the fifth Ashes Test seem untenable with WA Premier Mark McGowan digging in on quarantine rules.
Optus Stadium is scheduled to host the Ashes finale from January 14 but it is due to start just five days after the end of the fourth Test at the SCG.
On Saturday, WA Cricket chief executive Christina Matthews said the prospect of Perth hosting the fifth Test had gone from 97 per cent to 50 per cent.
Matthews said one of the major stumbling blocks was the sheer size of the broadcast team and the subsequent quarantine complications that would bring.
Any chance of players being able to complete a shortened quarantine period instead of the regular 14-day stint was rejected by McGowan on Tuesday.
The same hardline rules will also apply to any staff members or broadcast workers.
That means all members who fly to Perth will be under strict quarantine conditions throughout the entirety of the Test match – a situation that may not be feasible.
“We have put in place very strict rules,” McGowan said.
“So we’ve said to them, ‘you need to have 14 days quarantine’. And that has to apply to all the broadcast staff, the cricket staff.
“They can’t just bring wives and girlfriends with them – same rules as we put in place for the AFL.
“It’s up to them whether they want to adhere to those rules or not.”
Should Cricket Australia be forced to find an alternative venue, there is no shortage of suitors for the event.
Canberra’s Manuka Oval could also be a contender, as could back-to-back Tests at the SCG.
England star Jos Buttler faced the media Tuesday and was eager not to get drawn into the politics around quarantine, but said the tourists would be happy to play a second pink ball Test.
“Having watched the game at Adelaide, it’s a great occasion,” Buttler said.
“If there’s one place in the world where day-night Test match cricket sort of seems to work, it looks like it’s Australia that’s the best I’d say.
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
“It would just make for an incredibly unique Ashes series. It’s already unique. It’s already different.
“The traditionalists would love it to be probably five red-ball games but if that had to happen, or that was what was in the best interests of the games going ahead and running smoothly, then you’d have to be open to it.”
Buttler’s enthusiasm for pink-ball Tests is perhaps unlikely to be shared by England’s chief decision makers given Australia’s sensational day-night record.
Australia have won all eight day-night Tests they’ve played, including two by an innings and a 120-run victory in the 2017-18 Ashes.
England have, by contrast, played three day-night Tests away from home and lost all three by healthy margins.
After another day of Ashes preparations were washed out and with concerns over COVID restrictions building, Buttler said the tourists needed to focus solely on next week’s first Test.
England were hoping to begin a tour game in Brisbane on Tuesday but rain returned overnight to force the opening day’s play to be abandoned without a ball being bowled.
That comes after just 29 overs were possible in last week’s England v England Lions tour game at Peter Burge Oval, leaving the tourists scrambling to get in some red-ball match practice before the Ashes begin at the Gabba next Wednesday.
There are also fears the new COVID variant will lead to tighter restrictions for the players and border closures on a tour which England’s players only agreed in October to participate in.
With Australia’s on-field preparations similarly hampered by south-east Queensland’s wet weather and off-field turmoil over the Tim Paine sexting scandal, Buttler says the team which can put distractions out of mind next week and perform will gain a massive edge in the series.
“Probably both sides are excited for the cricket to start and for the off-field distractions to sort of hopefully move into the background,” Buttler said.
“We can start really talking about some great cricket on the field and think the Ashes series are always fantastic.
“There always seems to be certain things that happened before Ashes series and as players it’s very important that you don’t get too drawn into that or too drawn into what the opposition are doing.”
The emergence of the Omicron variant has raised doubts about whether English players’ families will be able to join them on tour or if they’ll be able to enjoy the freedoms initially agreed to ahead of travelling to Australia.
Buttler says the key lesson players have had to learn over the COVID pandemic is to not think too far ahead and worry about situations as they arise.
“It’s a hypothetical situation at the moment and until we get told that something’s changed, there’s no decision to make,” he said.
“It just adds to the unknowns, the things I don’t really need to worry about at the moment. If something like that happens, I have to get the information and we can sort of work through it and see how that looks.”
In what will be Buttler’s first taste of Ashes cricket in Australia, the 31-year-old said he was hopeful Perth would remain on the schedule.
“I’ve not been part of an Ashes series in Australia, but the Perth Test is always a fantastic game,” he said.
“It’d be a great shame if the game can’t be played in Perth … that new stadium is fantastic.
“Fingers crossed that things improve and the tour can run as scheduled.”
England’s hopes of getting some much-needed time in the middle for stars Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Stuart Broad and James Anderson don’t look promising with further rain forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.
Dibbs
Roar Rookie
The only untenable test is the one at the MCG. Melbourne is in the middle of a state-of-emergency, it's far too dangerous to have big events at the moment.
Dibbs
Roar Rookie
I feel like this kind of bitter attitude must come from jealousy. Because of higher living standards in every other capacity it would feel unfair for people in Perth to also enjoy sporting events.
Dibbs
Roar Rookie
Why would we not deserve it?
Dibbs
Roar Rookie
It's been happening for decades and has nothing to do with covid or McGowan. The only place that shouldn't be having such events is Melbourne; it's not worth risking your life for sport.
nics
Roar Rookie
More tilting at windmills. (1) McGowan's parents are in NSW. The border closures affect him as well. (2) he does not need a propaganda fear show at all given his overwhelming majority in both houses and high polling rates. Amazingly enough he might actually be motivated by keeping the state relatively healthy rather than maintaining his majority, and surprise surprise the electorate likes it. (3) McGowan is not aiming for 100%. He is concerned about the remote populations, a fact you constantly glance over. (4) the issues with the health system are systemic, predate this government and are not issues that can be fixed over one term. (5) you seem strangely obsessed over WA given you live over east. Perhaps you should move here and run for parliament and see how that goes? I believe the PUP may have policies to your liking.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
They can continue to rainstorm nothing much will change when they bring their walls down . I'm sure those who missed family and loved ones overseas during the pandemic or lost toursim and hoapitality dollars think a little to you . It's just those that don't leave wa and aren't under socio economic strain that may share your opinion now Perth is fully vaxxed in particular for most part
rainstorms
Roar Rookie
"Wa folk are drinking the fear and propaganda" No Pierro WA people are living easy, lovin free. Have been for months!
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I’d actually agree with all of your comments Marty actually but my comments are pretty much all based on opening jan 10 let alone pre Xmas and on opening at 85 percent double vax for Perth which as I’ve said is already achieved . Also based on only allowing vaccinated and pre tested In to Perth. What’s more compelling is the data I’m seeing that Alot of Perth is already at 94 to 95 percent double vax hence you could argue all you want about the past bit it’s becoming irrelevant right now to Xmas let alone january 11 in terms of inpact on perths hospitals as the vax rate literally won’t get much better by Xmas or maximised by Jan 11 . Perth is ready to go on all vax data and national plan already but by Jan 11 there’s literally no argument not to let vac ataff in for cricket compared to the data I’m seeing on Perth you won’t get any more vaxxed by Christmas and In fact youll increase it locally if anything by opening sooner to vaxed travellers as it will stimulate the remaining unvaxed 5 percent in Perth to do so when they likely won’t . It’s a McGowan propaganda fear show if he’s maintaining border control to the vaxxed from jan 11 on and even then for vaxxed staff for cricket with pre test. Won’t make any diff on hospitals by then as same impact by end of Jan of you look at Perth vax numbers by as and jan 11
Marty
Roar Rookie
I was referring more to his overall performance rather than specifically hospitals, which I agree have been a stuff up. By keeping the state virtually COVID free the impact on people has been minimal compared to the rest of the country. It has also allowed the resource sector to continue pumping $$$ into the national coffers. You can argue the toss on vaccination rates and timelines all you want but erring on the side of caution has worked pretty well thus far.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Marty Mcgowan has been clear about the states financial prowess and autonomous decision making and yet he's had 18 months plus to prepare and staff up hospitals or make alternative treatment centers. Thats not competence its arguably political diversion for negligence when they should be ready to go under national guidelines come January 10 let alone christmas. Interesting article i just read do you know many parts of perth are already 94/95 percent double vaxed. As I pointed out regions are lagging so theres definitely a load of BS and cya going on with mcgowan
Marty
Roar Rookie
I think blaming an individual for systemic failings that started long before he came along is a bit naive really however I’m also not one of those who think he’s the messiah. He’s basically done his job to a competent level, the fact that has made him the most popular premier since forever says more about the very low expectations we have of politicians these day IMO.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
For a state that promotes autonomy and its wealthy support propping up all states McGowan seems to have failed his people on hospital systems and staffing. Not so bright is he or worse negligent if so
Marty
Roar Rookie
Well that’s a very good question, and one that a lot of people over here are asking. Unfortunately successive governments have done what governments tend to do these days and run health systems very close to the wire. However that’s a discussion for another day. The situation is what it is and if you think that the WA hospital system is anywhere near capable of handling even a standard outbreak you are very much misinformed, and that’s coming from a good friend who is actually part of the teams running test scenarios at one of the major hospitals.
nics
Roar Rookie
To be fair, given how flat the SCG has been, a timeless test may not be enough to get a result over 4 (let alone 8) innings.
Tony
Roar Guru
Hmmm. I see your point. :happy:
Hooter
Roar Rookie
Can’t believe that Canberra is so far down the list of preferred venues. Surely there would be more profit at Manuka Oval, the ACT has a population almost as high as Tasmania’s, they are more concentrated and have the surrounding regions including Sydney to draw from. Manuka Oval has a capacity only 1/3 less than Blundstone Arena and the logistics of moving teams and TV coverage would be simpler. As to using Sydney and Melbourne whilst this will be a money spinner (admittedly a major consideration) they will already have had one test…. spread the joy! Allow others to have their fun too also the returns having had one test will suely go down (not cheap for tickets so most people may only be able to afford one or two tickets). Also in terms of vaccinated population the ACT is way ahead of everyone else (in fairness smaller population and heavily concentrated).
nics
Roar Rookie
I've had plenty of discussions on this issue with Dr Disnick on this site earlier in the year re the NSW "gold standard" (conveniently before the NSW lockdowns). I suggest you have a look given you have not really addressed any of the counterarguments raised by people besides myself here. A lot of your analysis is 20/20 hindsight, much like your criticism of Paine. It does nothing for your credibility. Neither does attributing statements to McGowan which he hasn't made (which is intellectually dishonest) or your spelling - it's "independent", for example. I'm done repeating myself here. Enjoy your 'freedom' to rant.
nics
Roar Rookie
Yes – you can walk across dirt into WA. You’ll just be faced with hundreds of kms of desert before reaching a large city. Similarly, you can walk across water to Tasmania from Sydney. Amazingly you fail to grasp that states with different vulnerabilities need (surprise surprise) different solutions. Does WA have the same population density as NSW/Victoria? Does NSW/Victoria have remote communities to the same extent (distance-wise) as WA? Do you think having a Perth test match is more important than potentially protecting remote communities with higher levels of comorbidities? Well actually I know the answer to that question. We are done here.
nics
Roar Rookie
We can't - how then could we know when the critical point of the game occurs? Without being able to evaluate the meaningfulness of any runs scored, there's no real point in watching the game is there?
nics
Roar Rookie
"AMA will overstate it's positions" - yes those news articles citing overworked hospital doctors, nurses and paramedics in the East coast are all overstated. What would these people at the frontlines know about COVID's impacts? You know best after all.