Former England captain and commentator Michael Vaughan said that Cricket Australia (CA) should act proactively after the COVID-19 outbreak inside the English camp on the second day of the ongoing Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Given the current COVID-19 situation, he also suggested that Cricket Australia (CA) consider moving the fourth Test of the ongoing Ashes 2021-22 to be held at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from New Year's Day, January 1, to MCG, as there is a risk of further spread of the coronavirus.
The second day of play of the ongoing third Ashes Test was delayed on Monday, December 27, after multiple COVID-19 positive cases emerged within the England camp.
Two members of the England support staff and two of their family members tested COVID-19 positive in rapid antigen tests less than 24 hours after Channel Seven confirmed that an asymptomatic staff member working on the Ashes 2021-22 broadcast crew also tested positive on Sunday evening.
As reported by Sen Radio, Vaughan told Fox Cricket on Monday: “I think Cricket Australia has to act quickly and be proactive in terms of the situation. It's unprecedented times. Could the next Test match be played here in Melbourne, under lights at the MCG, to make sure we all stay in Victoria where the protocols are different to Sydney?”
The commentator continued, “Do we really want to risk taking two teams over to Sydney, broadcast and production staff? You get to the SCG, there's one case in the team on day one and the Test match is off. Surely, Cricket Australia has to be proactive and realize that it's not going to be easy (even) staying here with what we've seen this morning.”
He explained, “The fact that it's a family member, Christmas Day everyone's going to have been around that family member, so there is a chance the COVID positive could spread around the side. I think Cricket Australia has to act quite quickly, it would be quite sensible and reasonable to think 'okay, this is the situation now, it wasn't the situation a week ago, we have to act.' It could be a good possibility.”
Vaughan signed off by saying, “Unfortunately we're in times where that's the wording, 'get it done. What's the best way to get those last two Test matches played in as safe an environment as possible? For me, the sensible way would be 'alright, we're all in Melbourne, we know the protocols are different here, stay here, play the next Test match and see how the land lies in 10 days time.'”
(With PTI Inputs)
