Cricket Australia and the New South Wales state government have come to an agreement, which will allow Indian and Australian players returning from IPL in UAE to finish off their necessary quarantine period in Sydney while also being allowed to use near-by training facilities, says a report by ESPNcricinfo.
"Confirmation of quarantine protocols, which arrived after NSW government approval on Thursday (October 22) but still require a final sign-off from the BCCI, will be a relief to all parties concerned", the report further states.
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This makes the SCG, as well as Canberra's Manuka Oval, the venues for the white-ball leg of India's much-anticipated trip. The yet not formally announced schedule could see Sydney hosting the first two ODIs on November 27 & 29, followed by the last match of the series and the first T20I in Canberra on December 1 & 4. The two teams then return to SCG for the last two limited-overs matches on December 6 and 8.
A historic feature of the tour will be the first Test in Adelaide (December 17-21), which will be India's maiden D/N pink-ball outing away from home.
"Adelaide (is) also the backup option for the Boxing Day Test (December 26-30) should the Covid-19 situation not allow it to be held at the MCG," the says the report. If things go smoothly, the marquee fixture will stay at its traditional home.
Then, following an extended gap, Sydney (January 7-11) will host the New Year's Test, with Brisbane (January 11-15) venue of the final Test.
The consensus within CA and NSW government was reached quickly after seemingly endless talks amid the cricket board and Queensland state government and health department concluded without any resolution on the matter.
This, according to the report, was "largely due to the fact Queensland Health seemed reluctant to agree to allow quarantining cricketers and staff to travel from the central Brisbane hotel CA had chosen to be able to train at Allan Border Field in the suburb of Albion."
The Test matches will be part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle while the ODIs count towards the ICC Super League. The T20Is carry their own context, helping preparations towards the next year's World Cup in India.
