England Cricket Team, ICC World Test Championship
England Cricket Team (Image Credit: Twitter)

Cricket Australia has reportedly rejected their counterpart England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) suggestion to move the first Ashes Test from Brisbane to Sydney.

After long and lengthy discussions with their players, the ECB named a 17-member squad for the Ashes with most of their core players included.

The first of the five Tests is scheduled to be played at the Gabba in Brisbane starting on December 8.

The Ashes 2019
The Ashes 2019 (Image Credit: Twitter)

NSW to not impose any strict quarantine rules

England cricket team will have to adhere to a 14-day quarantine period according to the border restriction rules of Queensland.

According to a report in Daily Mail, New South Wales will become the first Australian state to permit fully vaccinated travellers from next month with no quarantine mandatory for those testing negative for COVID-19.

Looking at this, the ECB wanted an advantage for their players, who backed them completely to propose a change in venue for the Ashes opener.

Cricket Australia denies change in venue for Ashes opener

However, CA did not agree with the proposal as the change could lead to more complications with fears over the visitors getting stuck in New South Wales due to other states’ strict border controls without having undergone quarantine — a factor that could derail the entire tour.

Read More  RCB Playing 11 vs KKR- IPL 2024, Match 10

There were also reports that the fifth and final Test in Perth was unlikely to go ahead because of border restrictions in West Australia.

West Australia has taken strict measures to combat the virus, and it is unlikely the state will open its borders with New South Wales and Victoria till the beginning of next year.

According to a report by Australian news channel News 9, the Perth Test will go ahead as per its schedule.

Cricket Australia Chief Nick Hockley
Cricket Australia Chief Nick Hockley (Image Credit: Twitter)

“In very constructive detail discussion with the West Australian government about how we move safely from the fourth Test (in Sydney) to the fifth Test,” Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley was quoted as saying in a video uploaded on News 9.

Australia is yet to name their Ashes squad and the Tim Paine-led side have not played a single Test match since losing to India in the fourth Test at the Gabba in early January.

Also Read: The Ashes 2021-22: We Need Our Sole Focus To Be Exceptional For Brisbane – Stuart Broad