Hockley: ‘Full steam ahead’ for Ashes preparations
Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley says Ashes preparations are proceeding “full steam ahead” after the tour was given the green light by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Concerns over Australia’s Covid travel restrictions andtheprospectofmultiple withdrawalsamongthevisiting side were real enough just last week for the ECB to suggest they may not take part in the series if a group befittingofthehistoricrivalry could not be raised.
But successful discussionswithcaoverarrangementsforfamiliesandquarantine meant there were no opt-outs, with England on Sunday naming a near fullstrength squad for the tour.
Following the ECB’S tick of approval, which was given “subject to several critical conditions being met”, Hockley said preparations were now moving “full steam ahead”.
“Weareworkingwithallof the relevant parties to play the schedule as planned,” he said. “Now that the tour’s confirmed, we’re doubling down on the finer detail with each of the venues and each of the host cities.”
Hockley also offered insight into the ECB’S conditionsforthetour’sapproval, which include working out visa exemptions and biosecurity protocols.
He said: “What I can say is that we’ve got a range of medical protocols that will vary depending on the nature of the situation in any of the cities as we move around Australia for the tour. Planning an Ashes series is a big, complex endeavourinnormaltimes. Butobviouslywiththeoverlay of biosecurity requirements, the level of detail of planning by lots of people is absolutely superb.”