New Zealand tour of Australia postponed due to quarantine issues

In what can be called a major development, New Zealand‘s tour of Australia has been postponed indefinitely due to quarantine requirements. The trans-tasman rivals were due to play three ODIs on January 30 and February 2 and 5, and a one-off T20I on February 8. New Zealand’s quarantine requirements and border controls are the major reasons behind the suspension of these fixtures.

It must be noted that this is the third successive year that white-ball fixtures between Australia and New Zealand have been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. This also means there are currently no One-Day Internationals schedule for the Australian team this summer. Notably, this series was to mark Kiwi great Ross Taylor’s last outing in international colours. Hence, it remains to be seen whether he participates in New Zealand’s next 50-over assignments.

New Zealand government imposed a hard 10-day mandatory quarantine

For the unversed, New Zealand government has imposed a hard 10-day mandatory quarantine amid the Omicron wave of COVID-19 infections. This meant New Zealand Cricket could not secure guarantees the national team players would be allowed back into the country. Meanwhile, the two sides are also scheduled to cross swords in a three-match T20 series in New Zealand between March 17 and 20.

However, it remains to be seen if that series proceeds if the current restrictions remain in place. Meanwhile, Cricket Australia and New Zealand officials have discussed the possibility of rescheduling those matches on Australian soil.

“As we now know, the advent of Omicron prompted a change of heart from the NZ Government, resulting in a hard 10-day mandatory isolation period being imposed on all incoming travellers. NZC and CA had explored a proposal to expand the tour and to push out the date on which the squad might return to New Zealand in the hope that might be more achievable for the Government,” NZC chief executive David White said in a statement.

Speaking on the matter, CA chief executive Nick Hockley said: “We are extremely disappointed that we won’t be able to play the scheduled matches against New Zealand as planned, however we will continue to work with New Zealand Cricket to reschedule the series.”