Cricket Australia has confirmed that the fifth and final Vodafone Ashes test will not be held at Perth’s Optus Stadium due to Western Australia’s tight Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Also Read:- Sourav Ganguly reveals how difficult it was to convince Rahul Dravid to become India’s head coach
The fifth test was originally scheduled to begin from January 14 but it was on the hands of Western Australia if they would relax the 14-day quarantine rule for the players and the staffs who will be involved in the game.
The Perth’s Optus Stadium would have hosted the series finale with a capacity of 60,000 for the first time. However, due to the emergence of a new mutated variant of covid-19 named ‘Omicron’, WA Premier Mark McGowan reaffirmed that the rules will not be changed for anybody. According to the rules, players, their families, as well as match and broadcast staff travelling to Perth after completion of the fourth Test in Sydney (January 5-9) would be required to complete 14 days quarantine upon arrival in WA.
“These complexities also mean that any suggestion of changing the order of the venues would not be feasible,” the statement read.
Also Read:- Ishant Sharma set to lose his position in tests ahead of SA tour
Cricket Australia’s chief executive Nick Hockley said he appreciated the efforts of the West Australian government and WA Cricket.
“We are very disappointed that we are unable to stage the fifth men’s Ashes Test at Perth Stadium,” he said in CA’s statement.
“We did everything we could in partnership with the WA government and WA Cricket to make it work under the current border and health arrangements, but unfortunately this was not possible.
“We are particularly disappointed for Western Australian cricket fans who were so looking forward to seeing the first-ever Ashes Test at the new stadium.”
Cricket Australia is yet to announce the venue for the fifth and the final Ashe test.
Also Read:- BCCI to decide on Virat Kohli’s captaincy in ODIs ahead of the SA tour