Shane Warne Requests Cricket Australia To Schedule The Boxing Day Test In Melbourne Despite Rising Covid Cases

Shane Warne, former Australian leg-spinner, has requested Cricket Australia (CA) to keep the traditional ‘Boxing Day’ Test the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground despite rising Covid-19 cases in Victoria.

The Indian cricket team is scheduled to tour Australia for a full-fledged series which includes six limited-overs Internationals [3 T20Is + 3 ODIs] and a four-match Test series.

According to the schedule released by CA in May, Melbourne was allotted the annual Boxing Day Test but with the Covid-19 situation worsening in Victoria, the governing body was forced to rethink the decision.

Cricket Australia will now be releasing the new schedule of the series this week.

“Cricket is the 2nd biggest sport in the world behind soccer(fact) & the biggest day on the Aust sporting calendar is the Boxing Day test. We must try & do everything possible to keep it at the MCG this year. FYI- The Melb Cup & the AFL GF are the next biggest events in Aust !,” Shane Warne wrote on his Twitter handle.

Cricket is the 2nd biggest sport in the world behind soccer(fact) & the biggest day on the Aust sporting calendar is the Boxing Day test. We must try & do everything possible to keep it at the MCG this year. FYI- The Melb Cup & the AFL GF are the next biggest events in Aust !

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) September 7, 2020

Also Read- WA Denies Changes To Quarantine Relaxation

Cricket Australia to announce the schedule of the India-Australia series this week

With the WA government refusing to relax its mandatory quarantine requirements, the Test series between the hosts and Team India could kickstart either at the Adelaide Oval or the Gabba in Brisbane.

The MCG could still hold the Boxing Day Test but there is a chance that it might get shifted to either Adelaide or Perth.

A report in the ‘Age’ states that ”the MCG is expected to be named as the host of the Boxing Day Test despite ongoing fears it may be moved.”

The iconic Sydney Cricket Ground could host back-to-back Test matches or just the third Test while Brisbane might end up hosting the fourth and final Test of the series.

India’s tour of Australia will kickstart with the three-match T20I series followed by the Tests.

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