There remains confidence the Perth Test will be able to take place despite WA border restrictions lasting into next year
Tasmania has formally launched a campaign to snatch the fifth men’s Ashes Test from Perth, with premier Peter Gutwein drawing on sentiment and sense in his pitch to Cricket Australia.
The series finale between Australia and England is slated to start at Optus Stadium on January 14. Western Australia’s strict border policy and English players’ reluctance to accept biosecurity restrictions beyond their quarantine stint means the fate of the match remains unclear.
“It would be just fantastic to see Tim play at Bellerive as captain of Australia. We’ve been having ongoing discussions with Cricket Tasmania and the CEO of Cricket Australia,” Gutwein told parliament. “Today I’ll be writing to Cricket Australia to formally put our case for the relocation of the Test match scheduled to commence on the 14th of January in WA.
“Their borders will not be open by then. Tasmania is ready to host that important match…[which] would without doubt be the state’s biggest sporting event that we’ve hosted to date.
“Tasmania has a great history and a proud tradition of representation in the Australian cricket team.”
Gutwein’s missive comes as CA chief executive Nick Hockley prepares for a round of ICC meetings in Dubai.
CA, whose former chairman Earl Eddings was forced to resign partly because of WA Cricket’s angst about doubt clouding its first international game in the COVID-19 era, is desperate for the schedule to remain as is.
Broadcasters are understood to be on the same page, knowing the time difference means the contest will drag into prime time on the east coast. But the uncertainty is frustrating every party involved, igniting speculation about likely alternate venues.
A packed-out MCG would be a relative financial boon for CA in terms of ticket sales, although part of Cricket Tasmania’s case is believed to be the lower cost of staging a Test in Hobart.
Bellerive was denied a chance to host its first Test since 2016 because of the postponement of Afghanistan’s one-off Test.
