South Australia has reportedly made an audacious bid to grab the New Year’s Test from the grasp of Sydney and transfer it to the Adelaide Oval.
Inclement climate has confirmed to be a irritating hindrance for the Sydney Test for a number of years, however frustration reached boiling level throughout South Africa’s tour of Australia this yr.
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The first two days of play on the Sydney Cricket Ground have been briefly halted as a result of climate delays, earlier than the complete third day was washed out because of the fixed downpour.
Such has been the affect of dangerous climate on the New Year’s Test, ABC meteorologist Thomas Saunders estimated rain has affected Test cricket a staggering 64 per cent of the time within the final eight years in Sydney.
With the damaging discourse from followers and a few cricket analysts alike, it’s led to South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) to drift the thought of snatching the New Year’s Test and internet hosting it in Adelaide, based on The Sydney Morning Herald.
However, former Australian captain Michael Clarke, a proud New South Welshman, was lower than impressed with the proposal.
“Not happening,” Clarke declared on Big Sports Breakfast.
“Can’t take Boxing Day from the MCG and you can’t take New Year’s away from the SCG, (an) absolute no-brainer. The day that stops is the day Test cricket is finished in this country.
“Their (Adelaide) Test match is perfect, when they’ve got it, under lights, it’s perfect, it’s working so well. Why would they want to change that?”
One of the driving elements behind Malinauskas and the SACA’s strategy centres across the robust turnouts on the Adelaide Oval, regardless of the opponent.
During Australia’s two Tests in opposition to the West Indies to kick off the summer season of cricket final yr, simply over 86,000 followers packed into the Adelaide Oval in comparison with 42,723 who attended the Perth Test.
As it stands, Adelaide will as soon as once more play host to an Australian Test match in opposition to the West Indies, with the report claiming it can happen on the Australia Day weekend subsequent yr.
“There have been rumours floating around that Adelaide, yet again, will have a Test match hosting West Indies in the summer coming up after this one, which will be two years in a row,” Malinauskas advised ABC Radio Adelaide.
“I think if those rumours have any substance, it’s pretty outrageous.
“We’re happy to support any proposition that stacks up and derives a better outcome for the state’s economy.
“Obviously our major events policies [are] already yielding dividends in that regard.”
Securing the New Year’s Test wouldn’t be the primary time Malinauskas has made an enormous splash within the Australian sporting panorama after producing the successful bid to host the AFL’s ‘Gather Round’, the place each staff performs in Adelaide for one spherical, much like the NRL’s Magic Round.
“The Pink Test in Sydney in the first week of the New Year is as much a part of Australian cricket, and indeed Australian culture, as the Boxing Day Test is for Melbourne,” Cricket NSW chief govt Lee Germon stated.
“Some of the greatest moments in Test history have been played at the Sydney Cricket Ground in that first week of January and we see absolutely no reason to break with tradition and custom.
“The Sydney Test has become synonymous with the McGrath Foundation through the highly successful ‘Pink Test’ initiative. It also drives significant benefits to tourism in Sydney and the state of NSW.
“Scheduling discussions around a summer are always ongoing between stakeholders but Cricket Australia have not given any indication to Cricket NSW that they are considering a move from tradition.
“Ultimately, we want what is best for Australian cricket and the fans of our sport, but we strongly believe that is not served by moving a long standing and successful piece of the calendar.”
Originally revealed as ‘Not happening’: Michael Clarke slams South Australia’s shock bid to grab New Year’s Test from Sydney
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
