Australia vs India: Sydney confirmed to host the third Test

The second Test between India and Australia concluded on Tuesday with the visitors levelling the four-match series with a brilliant performance. The third Test is set to be played from January 7 and it is set to go ahead as originally scheduled in Sydney. With recent COVID-19 cases in New South Wales, Cricket Australia had kept Melbourne on hold to host the third Test.

However, it has now been confirmed that the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) will play hosts to the two cricketing super powers in the third Test of the enthralling series. The contest is nicely poised with both the sides winning a game each and the third match will be immensely crucial in terms of taking an unassailable lead.

By the end of the third day of the Melbourne Test, it was reported that the MCG is all but confirmed to host the next game as well. But the Cricket Australia’s interim CEO Nick Hockley remained committed to Sydney according to reports in Fox Sports.

Players will train while in quarantine for Brisbane Test

CA was in talks with the NSW authorities and the Queensland government over the past couple of weeks. The final decision was taken after CA ensured that the players, support staff and coaches would be able to travel to Brisbane after Sydney Test. The Queensland government has imposed strict restrictions it seems to curb COVID-19 infection and despite CA’s multiple attempts, they couldn’t get approval to allow players to not quarantine.

But the players will now have to train and stay in quarantine itself ahead of the fourth and final Test in Brisbane. Meanwhile, there is still no clarity over how many spectators will be allowed in the stadium to watch the third Test in Sydney. Cricket NSW though is hoping that the health officials will allow the half the stadium to be full. The final decision is expected to be taken in the first week of January, 2021.

The Test match between India and Australia at the SCG during the 2018-19 tour was washed out due to rain. The Virat Kohli-led side had sealed the series by 2-1 then and India will now be hoping to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the same venue.