Gutwein offers Hobart for Test
TASMANIA’S chances of hosting the fifth Ashes Test are seemingly alive with Premier Peter Gutwein telling Cricket Tasmania that if the Perth Test was to be moved then he wants Tasmania’s name in the ring.
On Tuesday speculation grew that Western Australia’s border restrictions would force Cricket Australia to move the fifth Ashes Test scheduled for Perth on January 14 and on Wednesday Gutwein acknowledged he had been in talks with relevant parties and was in support of the Test being relocated to Hobart.
“I spoke with Cricket Tasmania yesterday and I’ve spoken with [Sports] Minister Richard Colbeck in recent days as well,” he said.
“Obviously I’ve said very clearly that should an opportunity arise for an Ashes Test we would very much like to put forward the state as being a venue for that.”
CT chief executive Dominic Baker told Triple M Hobart that Hobart would be ready for any possible relocation.
“It is going to be a fluid year and the last couple have years have been like that and we will be ready, willing and able to play a Test match here [Hobart] if we get the opportunity,” Baker said.
CA said it was aiming to play the schedule as planned “to the fullest extent possible”.
“As we have throughout the pandemic, Cricket Australia is working closely with state and territory cricket associations and respective governments in planning for the Vodafone Ashes Test series,” it said.
“We are buoyed by current vaccination rates and it is our intention to play the schedule as planned to
the fullest extent possible.
“CA will continue to monitor the situation in the weeks and months ahead as we get closer to the series and will continue to work with relevant stakeholders, with the safety and wellbeing of all involved as our No.1 priority.”
It was also revealed Australia’s Test against Afghanistan scheduled to start in Hobart on November 27 would be postponed in the coming days.
Earlier this month CA said it would not agree to play the Afghans in Hobart unless the Taliban changed its stance on not allowing women to play sport.
On Wednesday Baker confirmed on Triple M Hobart that CA would follow through with that stance.
“It’ll be formally postponed indefinitely this week. That’ll come out in the next couple of days,” he said.
“It’s about giving the Afghanistan government some direction around what they have to do to get back into sport.
“It’s not acceptable that they don’t allow female sport.”
Baker said the Afghan Test would not be cancelled but postponed to allow Afghanistan the chance to change its stance on female sport.
The first Ashes Test is due to start in Brisbane on December 8.