Cricket Australia mulls swapping last two Tests

According to CA, the leading option was still to play the match from January 7 to 11 in Sydney but if not, swapping the third and fourth Tests between Sydney and Brisbane was the top alternative

Adelaide: Cricket Australia could contemplate swapping the last two Tests of the ongoing four-match series against India following a rise in Covid-19 cases in Sydney where the third match is scheduled to be held from January 7.

Australian cricket officials were put on high alert last week after an outbreak of the virus in the northern beaches in Sydney. “According to CA, the leading option was still to play the match from January 7 to 11 in Sydney but if not, swapping the third and fourth Tests between Sydney and Brisbane was the top alternative,” a report in ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ said. “That would leave the SCG Test being the fourth of the series, played from January 15-19.”

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With cases growing, star Australia opener David Warner and pacer Sean Abbott — both recovering from injuries – were on Saturday flown from Sydney to Melbourne, which will host the Boxing day Test from December 26. The governing body’s coronavirus working group was also due to meet on Sunday to take stock of the impact of Sydney’s northern beaches virus cluster on the third Test.

With the number of cases shooting to 71, Victoria and South Australia have already announced tighter border controls, while the New South Wales state government have also imposed fresh restrictions.