NSW to rescue of Test summer

Canberra to get ODIs

NSW and Canberra have sealed the deal to launch the international men’s summer with six white ball matches against India, saving Virat Kohli from the threat of a Queensland boarding school.

Cricket Australia is awaiting final sign-off on its schedule from the all-powerful BCCI, but sources said on Thursday night the N SW Government had given its approval for the Indians to quarantine and train in Sydney, which is a major breakthrough in ensuring the $300 m summer gets off theground.

On Sunday night officials were left blindsided by revelations the Queensland Government was baulking at their quarantining requests — and had gone cold on allowing the Indians to train while serving their two-weeks of isolation, unless they were prepared to potentially bunker down at a boardingschool.

The development was a deal breaker with potentially monumental consequences, but CA officials have fasttracked a better deal with the NSW Government within 72 hours. NSW Government officials did not return calls, but it is understood CA received ministerial approval after a meeting on Thursday.

After being strung along for six weeks by Queensland, the NSW Government moved at lightning speed with police approving the measures proposed by CA.

It means Kohli’s Indians and Australia’s returning IPL stars such as Steve Smith and David Warner will be allowed to train while in quarantine in Sydney when it is expected they will arrive from Dubai on either November 11 or 12.

Cricket Australia must receive a final green light from Indian officials before they can release a summer schedule, which will feature a first daynight Test in Adelaide starting on December 17, a Boxing Day Test at the MCG, a Sydney Test starting on January 7, and a final Test in Brisbane from January15.

The rescue package means the limited overs series will be split between Canberra and the SCG—with three matches each from November 26 or 27 to December 8.