Cricket Australia (CA) is still determined to ensure the next summer's India-Australia Boxing Day Test goes ahead as planned at the iconic MCG in Victoria, even as the rise in COVID-19 positive cases in the state threatens to take the traditional fixture away, said Nick Hockley, the interim CEO of the governing body down under. 

The MCG has hosted a Test from December 26 to 30th every summer barring one since 1980. The marquee encounter is integral to Australian cricket, which is why CA remains hopeful of it going unaffected despite the troublesome times. 

Read Also: SCG prepared to host Australia-India Boxing Day Test in case required 

"In terms of Boxing Day, it's one of the most iconic events in the Australian sporting calendar, and we are working full steam ahead," Hockley told reporters on Saturday (August 8) amid speculations that Adelaide, or even Sydney, could potentially replace MCG for the showpiece India Test. 

"As long as circumstances allow, we will be doing everything we can to play the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. At the moment we are planning to have things go ahead."

Australia's second-most populous state, Victoria, is experiencing another infection-wave, accounting for more than two-thirds of the country's tally of 21,000 cases. The 181 deaths in Victoria is 70 per cent of Australia's total number of fatalities. 

All of this means CA will have to be extremely flexible with regards to its planning for the summer, featuring four India Tests, three ODIs and other international fixtures, domestic tournaments. 

"As we have seen with the winter codes, we need to be agile and flexible all the way through," Hockley stressed.

"As, when and if things change, we are doing everything we can that we make sure we have all the backup arrangements and can get cricket played," he added. 

(Inputs from Reuters)