The Australian cricket team has pulled out of its tour to South Africa at the last minute, citing concerns over Covid-19.
The Test series was due to start at the beginning of March, with the Australians playing three Test matches at the Wanderers in Johannesburg and at Supersport Park in Pretoria.
Initial indications were that the Australians would tour, given assurances around biosecurity and against a backdrop of declining Covid-19 infections in South Africa as it emerges from its second wave. However, Cricket Australia (CA) decided the tour was too high a risk.
Nick Hockley, CA’s acting CEO, was quoted by Cricinfo as saying: ‘This decision has not been made lightly and we are extremely disappointed, especially given the importance of continuing international cricket at this time, our valued relationship with CSA, and our aspirations to compete in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (final).
‘However, we have been consistent since the start of the pandemic that the health and safety of our people is always our number one priority and unfortunately, despite the best efforts to agree on a bio-security plan, the risks are simply too great at this time.’
Graeme Smith, director of cricket at Cricket South Africa (CSA) and a former South African captain, said he was ‘disappointed’ and that CSA had gone to enormous trouble to ensure a biosecure environment for the tour, with both teams to be hosted at Irene Country Lodge for the duration. CSA also said the cancellation of the tour at such a late stage would result in a significant financial loss for CSA, which has been under financial pressure for some time, following mismanagement at the body in recent years.
Australia has cancelled tours and matches against a number of countries recently, but has managed to play against England and India, the two most lucrative fixtures on the international circuit, leading to accusations that Australia is happy to play matches against the more moneyed teams in global cricket while pulling out of matches against other countries, using Covid as an excuse.
[Picture: Talisen, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1471593]