The Ashes 2021-22: Perth's Strict Quarantine Rules Set To Cost Optus Stadium The Rights To Host Fifth Ashes Test
Perth’s Optus Stadium may not get a chance to host the fifth Ashes Test as the West Australian Premier, Mark McGowan, confirmed that the quarantine rules in place won’t be bent for anybody.
McGowan has all but quelled the possibility of seeing the fifth Test in Perth despite being sure just a few days ago that the schedule would go ahead as planned. He has asserted that the players will have to complete a 14-day quarantine period in the wake of the new covid-19 variant, the Omicron.
“We have put in place very strict rules. So we’ve said to them, ‘You need to have 14 days quarantine’. And that has to apply to all the broadcast staff, the cricket staff. They can’t just bring wives and girlfriends with them — same rules as we put in place for the AFL. It’s up to them whether they want to adhere to those rules or not,” McGowan was quoted as saying.
The final Ashes Test is slated to begin on January 14, just five days after the fourth Test ends in Sydney. Therefore, it is virtually impossible to complete a quarantine period of 14 days and then goes on to play at the Optus Stadium.
Beauty is we don’t have to make a decision tomorrow – Perth, WACA chief executive on Ashes Test
The Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) chief executive Christina Matthews has backtracked on her earlier comment, claiming a “97 percent chance” of playing the fifth Test in Perth. She has now stated that it’s a 50-50 call, but the final decision doesn’t have to be made right now.
“I’d probably say at the moment I’m 50-50. I’d gone as high as 97 percent, but I’ve gone back to 50-50. We’ll wait and see. We’re slowly working on things behind the scenes. There’s great co-operation between Cricket Australia and the state government and us as well.“
“It’s fair to say there’s a few hurdles to get across, but the beauty is we don’t have to make a decision tomorrow. We’re trying to imagine what it might be like in mid-January as opposed to what it’s like today. As everybody knows, our government has very well known and strict protocols around different things and it’s a matter of time whether cricket can meet those demands or not,” Matthew told ABC Grandstand.
The first Ashes Test will be played at the Gabba, the second in Adelaide before moving to Melbourne for the third Test.
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