Lockdown puts 4th test in doubt

Brisbane: The Queensland government’s decision to place Brisbane under a three-day lockdown is the latest twist in the battle to keep the fourth Test at the Gabba. India’s main gripe with travelling to Brisbane thus far has been a fear Queensland Health will renege on the biosecurity arrangements signed off on by both cricket boards and health authorities on December 29 and yesterday’s news from the Sunshine State will not have helped.

However, the lockdown is not expected to impact upon the agreed upon arrangements. As things stand players will be allowed to mingle with one another in their team hotels rather than being cooped up in their rooms as was the case when India first touched down in Australia for an initial 14-day hard quarantine.

Brisbane was put under a strict three-day lockdown on yesterday as Queensland Health reacted swiftly to a positive test for the more infectious UK variant of COVID-19 in a hotel quarantine worker.

On Thursday, Cricket Australia interim chief Nick Hockley held talks with BCCI secretary Jay Shah to assure him the December 29 deal would remain in place. “The discussions are still on but today BCCI has formally sent a letter seeking relaxation of hard quarantine for its players if they are to have the match in Brisbane,” a senior BCCI official was quoted by the Press Trust of India.

“The MoU that was signed never mentioned about two hard quarantines. India have done one hard quarantine in Sydney (practice and back to hotel room),” he added.

Although the lockdown is set to end before the first day, it would be a surprise if restrictions were not put in place on how many can attend the match.

Fox Sports