Brisbane: Hobart will host the first ash test after winning the race on Saturday to replace Perth for the fifth and last clash of the current series between Australia and England.
The capital of Tasmania defeated a heavyweight competitor Sydney and Melbourne, with a test to become a daily pink ball affair in the arena of a 20,000 blundstone from January 14-18.
Perth was stripped of his hosting rights earlier this week at the rules of the Covid quarantine of Western Australian state, which requires players to be quarantined for 14 days.
There are no such rules in Tasmania.
“The submission we received was amazing and we did not hesitate that each place that took part would be the host of a beautiful event,” Chicket Australia Chief Nick Hockley said.
“There are various considerations, including commercial, logistics and operational factors and in this balance, the CA Council approves the Blundstone Arena to be the most appropriate place to host the fifth gray test.” While Ground Cricket Sydney and Land Cricket Melbourne is a bigger place, Hobart won strong support from Scott Morrison’s Prime Minister and Sports Minister Richard Colbeck.
“Because there is one in Tassie, I think it will be great, especially because the Afghan test clearly does not continue for a clear reason,” Morrison for a week.
It redeemed Hobart to lose what would be Australia’s first test against Afghanistan in November, which was postponed after the Taliban regime effectively prohibited sportswear.
Cricket Tasmania Chief Dominic Baker said he was happy at what would be the biggest sporting event in the state.
“It’s a pleasant day not only for Tasmanian cricket, but for Tasmania in general,” he said.
“While the situation that makes us can have the opportunity to host this test is undoubtedly unique, we are happy that the Tasmanian will have a once-in-law chance to watch the ash test in their own backyard.” The first test is currently underway in Brisbane.
The series then moved to Adelaide, also the afternoon test, before the traditional boxing day test in Melbourne was followed by Sydney and Hobart.