Silent treatment at SCG
A FAN wearing a gas mask waited outside the SCG’s locked gates and cameramen clapped in a bid to create atmosphere in Australia’s first closed-door sporting event yesterday.
After Cricket Australia acted early and barred fans from the ODI series against New Zealand due to the coronavirus pandemic, the SCG match loomed as the new norm.
Both captains still exchanged handshakes at the toss, but interviews were done via Spidercam to ensure a 2m buffer zone.
Australia was without quarantined fast bowler Kane Richardson with a “mild sore throat”, but there was good news late in the day when he was cleared of contracting coronavirus.
Players tried to carry on as if it was business as usual after being told of the new health measures on Thursday night.
With reserves sitting in the Members Pavilion watching on, the Black Caps still used sweat to shine the ball, as usual.
But the reality was that all was not normal.
When Aaron Finch struck the game’s first six, there was no roaring cheer.
Just silence, and some words of encouragement to bowler Jimmy Neesham.
And when NZ had its first appeal — a top-edge from David Warner that should have been upheld — no review clock appeared on a big screen devoid of replays.
Crowds will be banned from the next two games in the series, scheduled for Sydney tomorrow and Hobart on Friday, and doubt remains over a tour of NZ later this month, given the Federal Government’s non-essential travel warning.
Australia’s women’s tour of South Africa next week has been suspended, the first major cricket series affected.
“We have taken strong action … in the face of an unprecedented public health issue,” CA boss Keith Roberts said.
“We believe this is the right decision to minimise the risk of public exposure to the coronavirus.
“We understand that these changes to our schedule will impact many, but we hope our community will understand that the public health and safety issues … must take priority.”
Roberts said cancelling the ODIs would have been “excessive” but there had been “apprehension” among players at the prospect of playing in front of large crowds.
That was especially so after a spectator at last week’s women’s T20 World Cup final at the MCG was diagnosed with coronavirus.
Roberts defended the call to play that final in front of 86,174 fans, but said it was a “learning experience”.
The Indian Premier League’s start has been pushed back from March 29 to April 15
The eight franchises were notified of the delay yesterday and owners will meet with IPL officials in Mumbai today.
Roberts said CA had not yet made any decisions regarding player availability for the lucrative tournament.
“It would be premature to make decisions now based on what’s happening in the coming months,” he said.
“We’re being well briefed about experts and we’ll keep making decisions in advance of each milestone.”