Hobart poised to poach fifth Test

HOBART is firming to steal the fifth Ashes Test from the MCG in what would be one of the great David over Goliath victories.

Cricket Australia had a board meeting on Thursday and has another on Friday, during which Perth may be officially axed from the schedule due to Western Australia’s strict border rules.

Melbourne has been built up as the favourite to assume the fifth Test due to the $30m temptation of being able to sell out the MCG for the second time in the summer as a daynight Test.

But News Corp understands Hobart is looming as Cricket Australia’s preferred option, with the Tasmanian government pushing hard to steal a historic Ashes Test.

A final decision has not been made – and the MCG will still have further opportunities to push its case – but it’s understood Hobart is in the box seat as it stands to host the fifth Test as a likely day-nighter at Bellerive Oval.

Broadcasters are pushing for a second pink ball Test in the Ashes schedule as compensation for losing the Perth Test, which beams into the east coast as a prime time Test match anyway.

There is nothing in the tour conditions to stop a second pink ball Test being added, and it’s unlikely England would object to Hobart as a venue, provided the local government has lifted current Covid restrictions by mid-January, which is the state’s plan.

WA Premier Mark McGowan has stated cricket would have to fall in line with a strict 14-day quarantine to play the Test in Perth. But WA officials are still miffed their midJanuary Test might be taken off them in early December, when last summer Sydney was given until the 11th hour to prove itself fit to host the New Year’s Test.

If Cricket Australia sticks to its guns and backs in Hobart, it would have sacrificed up to $20m in potential revenue but would honour its federation model of sharing matches around the states.

Hobart lost the Afghanistan Test at the start of the summer through no fault of its own, after CA was forced to take a stand over the Taliban shutting down women’s cricket in that country.

There were fears Tasmania’s bid for the Test may have fallen over after Tim Paine’s shock resignation robbed its pitch of the sentimental appeal of giving the captain a farewell Test on home soil. Tasmania criticised Cricket Australia for its handling of the Paine saga, but that doesn’t appear to have hurt Hobart’s chances.