Page Loader
Australia vs India: SCG prepares pitch for Boxing Day Test

Australia vs India: SCG prepares pitch for Boxing Day Test

Aug 08, 2020
04:48 pm

What's the story

This year's Boxing Day Test between Australia and India could be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) with traditional home Melbourne battling a surge in coronavirus cases. There has been a pitch prepared at the SCG for the Test match. At the moment, there is no live sport currently in Melbourne as it struggles with hundreds of new daily infections.

Test match

SCG keen to host the Test match

Reports have suggested that Adelaide could get the chance to host the match from December 26 onwards. However, SCG Trust chairman Tony Shepherd said they too were keen. "We'd be very happy to host it because it's a major event and it's good for Sydney. We have the capacity to host it if that's what Cricket Australia wants," he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Double-header

Sydney could be braced for a double-header

Generally, the Boxing Day Test is followed by a match at the SCG. Now if Sydney gets to host the Boxing Day Test, a double-header in the city could be on the cards. Shepherd said the large Indian community in Sydney would relish the extra opportunity to see their national team live. "They would love both events, a double-header would be fabulous," he said.

Hockley

CA wants to host Boxing Day Test at MCG

Cricket Australia's interim CEO, Nick Hockley has said the board will do everything to host the Boxing Day Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. "In terms of Boxing Day, it's one of the most iconic events on the Australian sporting calendar. Certainly, at this stage, we are planning full steam ahead," Hockley said as per AFP.

MCG

Hockley hopeful of hosting the Test at the MCG

Hockley stated if crowd can be brought in, MCG will be preferred. "As long as circumstances allow, we will be doing everything we can to play the Test at the MCG. It comes down to if we can get a crowd at the MCG, we'll play at the MCG. There's a long way to run, over four and a half months," he added.

Information

Australia's COVID-19 cases near the 21,000 mark

So far, 20,697 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Australia. There have been 278 deaths as 11,320 people have recovered. Melbourne, which is the capital of Victoria, is struggling to cope up with rising cases. On Friday, Victoria recorded 466 news cases.