Nick Hockley Confirms Day-Night Test At Adelaide To Go Ahead As Scheduled

Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, on Tuesday, confirmed that the pink-ball Test between hosts Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval will go ahead as per the original plan.

Adelaide is scheduled to host the series opener of the upcoming high-voltage rubber between Australia and India and doubts over its ability to stage the marquee encounter had surfaced after South Australia recorder a surge in Covid-19 cases, post which a brief lockdown was imposed.

Cricket Australia had even ordered the players who featured in the Shield game in South Australia like Tim Paine, Marnus Labuschagne to self-isolate.

The doubts further increased when SA’s chief public health officer has admitted that there was no guarantee that Adelaide will host the day-night fixture.

However, with the lockdown getting lifted last Saturday amid a decline in cases, Nick Hockley has confirmed that the match will go ahead as scheduled.

“You are aware that there was a small, contained cluster of Covid cases last week. We have been working very closely with the South Australian government and at this stage, we have been given assurances that it has been contained,” Nick Hockley said in a virtual media conference.

“The lockdown that they were under finished last Saturday. So at this stage, all assistance goes for the Adelaide Test. We are confident that it will go ahead as scheduled,” he added.

‘We are working closely with the BCCI to make sure that we are providing absolutely the best possible conditions’- Nick Hockley

Hockley further added that CA has worked very hard with all the health authorities across all the cities that are hosting the matches during the marquee tour besides adding that they have done their best in providing the best possible facilities to the Indian team and the Australian players returning from the IPL.

He also added that while the safety of both teams is paramount, they are working closely with the BCCI to ensure that the Indian team gets the best possible conditions throughout the tour.

“We have been lucky that the cases have been very low in Australia. Community transmission has been limited. We worked very hard with the health authorities and with each host city in Australia and worked together with the best possible conditions that include over the last number of days of quarantine, full training, center-wicket practice, outdoor gym for both Indian and the Australian players returning from IPL,” Nick Hockley added.

“Obviously, the safety of both participants in the community is our absolute number one priority. But we are working closely with the BCCI to make sure that we are providing absolutely the best possible conditions for both training and playing and also accommodation throughout the course of the tour,” he signed off.

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