Ashes 2021-22: Perth Test in doubt due to strict COVID-19 restrictions

Right since the announcement of the scheduled five-match Ashes series Down Under, one news or the other are hogging the limelight. Initially, it was told that the few England players are contemplating pulling out of the Ashes due to the Australian government's strict quarantine norms. Later it was reported in certain reports how Australia PM Scott Morrison has promised to find a solution to the problem.

It all started with the government resorting to strict quarantine norms for travelers traveling from other countries to Australia. Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, the government has imposed some mandatory protocols of quarantining for 14 days before allowing the person to see their families. This rule has been in implementation since June. And that has led to former England captains Kevin Pietersen and Michael Vaughan even calling off the Ashes.

While some English cricketers are contemplating skipping the three-month-long tour, a new problem has emerged. Perth, the venue of the third Test match, might not see players’ quarantining for 14 days after completion of the second Test. Richard Colbeck announced that Perth won’t be able to host the scheduled third Test due to strict COVID-19 protocols.

“We’ve had to do a lot of work to organize quarantine arrangements for cricketers coming into Australia. There are serious questions about whether there’ll be a test match in Perth this summer. If there’s no chance of coming here without prolonged quarantine, it just won’t occur,” said Australia’s sports minister Richard Colbeck while taking to Perth radio station 6PR.

The Ashes is set to kick off in Brisbane on December 8 with Adelaide and Melbourne hosting the second and third Tests respectively.