Aussies’ Ashes prep left in limbo

ASHES preparation for a raft of Australia’s best players have been thrown up in the air after the Sheffield Shield match set to start in Brisbane on Tuesday was abandoned amid fears from Tasmanian players and officials of being caught in a Covid lockdown.

The Tasmanians decided to fly home as a “preventive measure” after four positive Covid cases were detected in the northern suburbs of Brisbane, with the game now set to be played at a later date.

But as of Tuesday no further Sheffield Shield matches had been scheduled, with players from both Victoria and NSW yet to be given the green light to even leave their states.

Players including Test spinner Nathan Lyon and Victorian batting star Will Pucovski will need to spend 14 days in quarantine when they move and then another week preparing before they can open their seasons.

That now looks like late October, roughly six weeks before the Ashes opener against England in Brisbane, scheduled for December 8.

Test star Marnus Labuschagne was among those left in limbo when the Queensland game was called off, and none of the players from both teams have another match scheduled as Cricket Australia navigates the minefield of border restrictions around Australia.

Initially the opening day of the match was postponed, before the match was abandoned when the Tasmanian team opted to fly home despite no extra restrictions being put in place by the Queensland government.

“Cricket Tasmania has made the decision to return their Tasmanian Tigers Marsh Sheffield Shield and one-day squads to Tasmania today,” a statement from Cricket Tasmania said.

“This is not a decision that was taken lightly.”

“While the situation in Queensland has prevented the match from commencing today, a cautious and considered approach is being taken and it is our strong opinion that we are better having our players and staff home as we build a better understanding of the current landscape.

“We hope that this preventive measure will, with hindsight, not have been required.”

A one-day game between the two teams set to be played on Sunday also looks unlikely to go ahead.

Cricket Australia said the Shield match would be “rescheduled to a new date later in the season, following the Tasmanian team’s decision to fly home today”.

“Cricket Australia and all state and territory Associations will continue to make the health and safety of our players, staff, match officials, fans and the wider community our top priority as we look to execute a safe and successful summer of cricket,” a statement said.

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk allayed fears of a snap lockdown on Tuesday morning but said the government was monitoring the situation.

The match was one of just two officially scheduled for the Shield season after the original plan was thrown out the window.

A draw between South Australia and Western Australia finished on Monday, while the teams also played a one-day game last week.