In the wake of the recent coronavirus outbreak in Sydney, Cricket Australia (CA) will be expected to host both the second and third Test between India and Australia in Melbourne. The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will be hosting the Boxing Day Test between the two teams scheduled to be commencing on December 26 while the third Test was scheduled to be staged at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney.
However, according to the recent reports of The New Indian Express, Melbourne is likely to be the venue for the third Test as well. Team India has been reportedly informed about the ‘potential’ change in plan and an official confirmation is expected soon. The BCCI also has been informed about the situation after a sudden outbreak of COVID in Sydney forcing broadcasters to send back commentators and some other staff home.
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The third Test in Sydney is expected to be commencing on January 7 and the CA was earlier confident of hosting the game at the SCG with hopes that the situation would improve. CA had even confirmed on Sunday that the SCG Test was on and that a change in schedule is not expected.
However, as per The New Indian Express’ report, things have ‘changed drastically’ in the last 24 hours, and CA is of the opinion that it might not be safe to host the New Year’s Test in Sydney. The Indian players have already arrived in Melbourne while Australian players David Warner and Sean Abbott were airlifted out of Sydney last Saturday.
As per the quotes in the New Indian Express, a BCCI official said, “The CA feels Melbourne is a safe option under the circumstances because the safety of the players and the staff is paramount. They are in regular touch with the BCCI and the venue should be finalized soon.”
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After enduring a painful 8-wicket defeat in the first Test in Adelaide, Team India will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways in the second Test in Melbourne. The hosts will be missing the skipper, Virat Kohli for the remainder of the series as the skipper will return home on paternity leave to be with his wife Anushka Sharma for the birth of their first child.
