Australia-NZ tours postponed due to coronavirus travel clampdown

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) - Australia and New Zealand’s limited overs tours have been postponed in the wake of new travel restrictions announced by the New Zealand government yesterday aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said yesterday that everyone entering the country from midnight tonight must self-isolate for 14 days in an effort to contain the outbreak.

More than 138,000 people have been infected globally and over 5,000 have died, according to a Reuters tally of government announcements.

The new restrictions meant New Zealand’s cricket team would head home from their current tour of Australia later yesterday, the sport’s national federation said.

“This development also means the three-match T20I series scheduled for New Zealand cannot proceed as the mandatory self-isolation period would also apply to the Australian squad as soon as it crossed the border into New Zealand,” New Zealand Cricket said in a statement.

“NZC believes both these series can be replayed in their entirety at a later and more appropriate date.”

While the players were booked to fly out yesterday, bowler Lockie Ferguson spent anxious hours at the team’s Sydney hotel before eventually being cleared of coronavirus.

NZC said earlier yesterday that Ferguson had been placed in isolation at the team hotel for 24 hours in accordance with recommended health protocols.

“Homeward bound. Lockie Ferguson has also been cleared to fly and will return to New Zealand tomorrow,” the team said on Twitter.

Australia beat New Zealand by 71 runs in the first ODI in front of 48,000 empty seats at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday as precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus hit home Down Under. Australia paceman Kane Richardson was also quarantined after reporting a sore throat on Thursday but was cleared of the virus and able to rejoin team mates at the SCG on Friday.