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Given the unfolding COVID-19 scenario in Australia, former England captain Michael Vaughan has asked Cricket Australia (CA) to host the fourth, and potentially fifth, Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Two England cricket team support employees and two of their family members tested COVID-positive on Monday (December 27), causing a panic situation in which the entire touring group was subjected to Rapid Antigen Tests and Day 2 of the third Ashes Test was delayed by half an hour.
COVID-positive incidents have also been reported in the Ashes broadcaster, Channel Seven, where the commentary crew has been changed for the second day and some callers have been ruled out as close connections. In the midst of the COVID debacle, Vaughan believes the host cricket body should consider moving the last two Tests to Melbourne. The fourth Test will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), while the fifth and final Ashes match will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Following a positive test in the squad’s family group, the England players and management are currently at the team hotel awaiting the results of RFT COVID testing.
More information will be provided as soon as possible.
December 26, 2021 — England Cricket (@englandcricket)
“In terms of the circumstances, I believe Cricket Australia needs to act soon and be proactive.” “These are unusual times,” Vaughan said of Fox Cricket, according to sen.com.au.
On Monday, a total of 6,324 new COVID-19 cases were reported in New South Wales (NSW), and Vaughan believes SCG should be dropped as the fourth Test site to reduce the danger of virus transmission. “Could the next Test match be held in Melbourne, under the lights at the MCG, to ensure that we all stay in Victoria, where the protocols differ from those in Sydney?” Do we really want to risk sending two teams to Sydney, one for broadcast and one for production?
When you get at the SCG, there’s one case in the team on day one, and the Test match is called off,” Vaughan explained.
In NSW, some of the more stringent COVID-19 regulations, such as QR code check-ins and density limitations, have been reinstated, and more harsh measures could be implemented in the future to combat the spread of the new variety ‘Omicron.’
On Monday, Victoria recorded nearly 2,000 cases, but the former England captain believes it is safer to maintain the two teams, their support personnel, and the broadcasters in the same location rather than moving them to a different location. our guys have received permission to play today and have arrived at the stadium.
“Surely Cricket Australia must be proactive and recognize that, given what we’ve seen this morning (with the England team), it’s not going to be easy (even) staying here,” Vaughan said.
“It’s a family member (who tested positive), and it’s Christmas Day? Because everyone has been near that family member, there’s a risk the COVID positive has spread to the side. I believe Cricket Australia must act swiftly; it would be logical to believe that everything is well; nevertheless, this is the scenario now; it was not the position a week ago, and we must act.”
“It (relocating the final two Ashes Tests to MCG) might be a viable option. What is the greatest strategy to ensure that the final two Test matches be played in the safest possible environment? The reasonable option, in my opinion, would be OK; we’re all in Melbourne, we know the protocols are different here; stay here, play the next Test match, and see where the land is in ten days.”
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