GABBA TEST HOPES HIGH
CA upbeat but India silent
CRICKET officials were last night growing in confidence that they will get India across the line for the Gabba Test after receiving assurances that Brisbane’s three-day lockdown and status as a Federal Government hotspot won’t compromise next week’s Series finale.
India is remaining mysteriously silent, but sources last night said CA believe all signs point to BCCI agreement being forthcoming.
The fact the SCG has still not been asked to work on preparing a back-up wicket is the surest sign Cricket Australia are powering ahead with their mission to play out the summer as scheduled despite the whispering campaign from members of the Indian camp to boycott.
Queensland’s shock call to put the city into a strict lockdown in a bid to short-circuit any threat of a mutant COVID virus infiltrating the community has Queensland Cricket nervously holding its breath ahead of the series finale starting on January 15. All grade and club cricket in Brisbane for this weekend has been cancelled and when the lockdown lifts on Monday, there is only four days until day one of the Test. But although crowd numbers could be impacted by a Government rethink, the lockdown wouldn’t appear to pose any threat to the Test itself, other than convincing the Indians their expectations will be met and hoping the tourists won’t be spooked any further.
In Sydney, the Indians have the run of the hotel. But in Brisbane, it’s understood they fear being confined to their floors and delivered meals in their individual rooms. They want communal areas to eat and mingle in.
These are the points of contention being worked through with Cricket Australia, who are trying to calm their fears and reassure the BCCI that the conditions imposed on them will be no different to what they’re currently experiencing in Sydney.
High level meetings with the Queensland Government on Friday confirmed to Cricket Australia that the quarantine measures promised will not be impacted by the lockdown.
Cricket Australia continues to communicate these commitments to the BCCI, but are still hoping their Indian counterparts can declare once and for all they will travel to Brisbane to finish the series.
Concerns over quarantining arrangements have been raised by the Indian team on the ground, but BCCI officials at head office are now working with them to iron out every single detail of the Brisbane arrangement before they’re satisfied to proceed.
Queensland proudly held a State of Origin with a full crowd in a moment of blissful celebration, and further big crowds have been expected for what is guaranteed to be a live finish to the Border-Gavaskar series. But those full crowds must now be under a cloud.
It would seem bizarre to have a city in lockdown one weekend, and then pouring into the Gabba with full crowds the next.
Cricket Australia have spent the past 36 hours locked in urgent crisis talks with an Indian side.
India don’t want to be locked in their hotel rooms, but Queensland has already said that won’t happen.