Cricket Australia confident about hosting fourth Test in Brisbane

Cricket Australia (CA) is certain that they will be successfully able to host the last Test of the four-match Border Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane, starting from January 15 without any hindrance. The reports of Indian players unhappy with the venue of the fourth Test owing to the harsh bio-bubble restrictions in Brisbane were doing rounds in the media.

CA’s interim Chief Executive Officer Nick Hockley clarified that they had an informal talk with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials in Mumbai and haven’t received any formal statement from BCCI regarding the change of the venue.

Also, Nick reckoned that the players won’t be typically confined to their rooms in Brisbane as they would be allowed to meet and greet their teammates in some common parts of the hotel when they aren’t training or playing at the Test venue at Gabba.

“We’ve had nothing formal from the BCCI to suggest anything other than they are supportive. We speak to our counterparts in the BCCI daily and we have clarified in the last 24 hours what the precise requirements are in Brisbane. There has been some reporting that players will be confined to their rooms – that’s not the case.

“Typically for a Test match, players arrive at the ground between 8am and 9am and they are there until 6 or 7 at night, and then it’s back to the hotel to rest and recuperate and they will be able to mix within their groups,” Nick Hockley said as quoted by cricket.com.au

Cricket Australia prepares a second pitch at SCG for the fourth Test

“So everyone’s fully across that, and supportive. As we’ve said all summer, we’ve been consistent, we want to play the Tests as scheduled and we’ve been working really constructively with Queensland Health. I have to say they’ve been absolutely fantastic, we’ve put in place arrangements here in Sydney and in Brisbane that are appropriate with the environment,” he added.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia is preparing a second pitch at Sydney Cricket Ground if due to unforeseen circumstances Brisbane fails to host the fourth Test. Venues NSW Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather stated that though they would love India and Australia to play the fourth Test in Brisbane and went on to say that even SCG is ready to host it.

“We would love to see the (fourth) Test played at the Gabba. It’s a real fortress for Australia and we hope the people of Queensland will get the same opportunity that we’ve had here. But like all things at the moment, we’ve ensured there is a contingency plan. So if there is a requirement for a second Test here (at the SCG), we’ll be ready to host it,” Mather said.