India, Australia Test series could be played behind closed doors

MELBOURNE Cricket Australia (CA) CEO Kevin Roberts on Tuesday hinted at the board’s willingness to conduct the five-Test series against India later this year behind closed doors.

Roberts also revealed that the Indian team led by Virat Kohli could be housed at a ‘quarantine hub’ such as Adelaide Oval’s under-construction 128-room hotel. This would allow India to train and play the Test campaign without any additional travel.

“At this point, we won’t rule anything out in terms of the Indian series,” Roberts told a video media conference. “Along with the BCCI, the Indian players and their support staff, we want to stage a series that inspires the cricket world, whether or not there are people at the venue or not sitting in the stands.

“So we’ll explore all viable options, many of which wouldn’t have been contemplated until now. We are in a different world where all of a sudden we’re being grateful for what we have rather than lament about things that we don’t,” he said.

“What we are working on is our partnership with the BCCI. Whether that be about the pursuit of five-Test series in the future or whether it be about finding the most creative ways to ensure that together we can deliver an international Test series that inspires the cricket world throughout next summer.” he said, adding “That’s our focus. And we are planning for that and trying everything we can to make that happen,” Roberts said.

Our CEO Kevin Roberts addressed the media this afternoon on our response to the coronavirus pandemic, and plans to return to cricket.

Watch the full press conference here: https://t.co/dHTkovR1az pic.twitter.com/FvPOXDrjr6

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) April 21, 2020

Roberts stated that cricketing boards of the two countries have also deliberated on growing the regular Border-Gavaskar Trophy series – which have historically featured four Tests – to five matches.

“We’ve discussed a shared desire to evolve to a five-Test series between Australia and India in the future, just like both our nations play five Tests series against England,” he said.

“It’s something we’re both committed to, in principle, in the future and the big question is whether or not we can bring that in before the next Future Tours (Program) cycle in 2023,” the Australian cricket board’s head said.