Australia offered to host the now-postponed Test series against South Africa, but the proposal was rejected by the Proteas’ cricket hierarchy.
Key points:
- Cricket Australia said it was left with no option but to cancel the tour due to the coronavirus risk
- CA boss Nick Hockley said there was no financial reason behind the decision to postpone the tour
- There will be no change to the T20 team set to tour New Zealand
Australia has pulled out the scheduled Test tour of South Africa because of coronavirus concerns, angering the hosts, who say the decision is costly and unnecessary.
Cricket Australia’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley said he understood the frustration of Cricket South Africa.
But he said medical advice made the tour an “unacceptable” risk to Australia’s players and staff, as South Africa struggles to contain the virus and a new variant.
The three-Test series was due to start on March 3.
“We did offer to host the series here, but Cricket South Africa made that very clear that they have got lots of other commitments and with quarantine periods and the like, that just wasn’t feasible,” Hockley said.
“I don’t think Cricket South Africa could have done any more … in terms of biosecurity arrangements.
“Firstly, South Africa, very sadly, hit the peak of their second [coronavirus] wave.
“And secondly, they have got the more virulent strain which there is still lots of unknowns around that.
“As we worked through the residual risk and also some questions and challenges [around] if we were to get a case, how and when we could get our players back home, putting health and safety absolutely number one, we were really left with no option.”
Cricket South Africa’s director of cricket Graeme Smith said he was “extremely disappointed by the decision” and that Australia’s concerns were unfounded.
“CSA has been working tirelessly in recent weeks to ensure that we meet every single expectation of CA. So to be informed about the CA decision at the eleventh hour is frustrating.”
CSA’s acting chief executive officer Pholetsi Moseki said the organisation had already incurred significant costs while preparing for the Australia tour.
“In this challenging period for cricket and its member countries, we believe the stance taken by CA is regrettable and will have a serious impact on the sustainability of the less wealthy cricket-playing nations,” he said.
Hockley flatly rejected suggestions finances played a part in the decision, given Australia had played cash cows England and India since the outbreak of coronavirus.
The postponement cruels Australia’s chances of earning a spot in the world Test championship, but Hockley ruled out appealing to the ICC for dispensation given the circumstances.
“We knew all the rules going in,” he said.
“That is what has made this decision really, really hard.”
New Zealand are in the box seat to secure one of the spots, while the four-Test series between India and England will determine who snares the other spot.
Hockley said Australia’s T20 squad for the tour of New Zealand would remain unchanged, with no Test players included.
Coach Justin Langer, who was due to go to South Africa with the Test team, will not coach the T20 outfit in New Zealand.
AAP/ABC
