Bubble mates: Plan for instant transtasman cricket contests
New Zealand and Australia are in talks to fire up their cricket rivalry with hastily arranged matches this year — a positive twist in a sports world devastated by Covid-19.
New Zealand Cricket boss David White has joined other sports in declaring there could be head office cuts because of the virus crisis but the potential for a unique international travel arrangement between the two countries could provide better news on the field for the men’s and women’s teams.
The respective Governments are open to forming a special travel bubble without quarantine requirements, while maintaining restrictions with the rest of the world.
White and his Cricket Australia opposite Kevin Roberts are looking to add matches to the calendar as quickly as possible if the special bubble becomes reality.
“We’ve been having regular conversations with Cricket Australia looking at all different kinds of opportunities,” White told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“A Tasman bubble would be terrific if it did eventuate [and] present some opportunities. The key is to keep an open mind and be flexible so if opportunities do arise we can take them.
“We haven’t talked specifics. What we have talked about is conceptually the possibility of playing each other.”
White said NZC was determined to keep the domestic schedule intact and keep financing community cricket.
“If there is any cost cutting to go ahead, we’ll probably be doing that at head office,” he said.
New Zealand and Australia played an ODI in Sydney behind closed doors before their series was abandoned in March, and the two sides weren’t set to next meet in a series until three one-dayers next January.
The Black Caps’ home tests against Pakistan and West Indies and shortform matches against Sri Lanka are under threat because of the pandemic, while their proposed tours of Scotland and Ireland, the West Indies, and Bangladesh are almost certain to be called off. The White Ferns’ tour of Sri Lanka was also cancelled.
Australia’s tour of Bangladesh is cancelled and a limited-overs tour of England is unlikely. The end-of-year T20 World Cup is also under threat.
We’ve been having regular conversations with Cricket Australia looking at all different kinds of opportunities.
David White