Adelaide: A six-day lockdown has been implemented in South Australia to contain COVID-19 cases. This lockdown has improved Adelaide’s chances of remaining the venue of the first Day/Night Test between India and Australia. The D/N Test is scheduled to begin December 17. However, the situation remains fluid, South Australia’s top medical officer said.
South Australia has closed its borders after a sudden surge in COVID-19 positive cases. The current tally stands at 551 right now. Australian cricketers, including Test skipper Tim Paine, have been airlifted to New South Wales.
South Australia’s chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier, during a press conference, admitted that there are no guarantees. “I can’t tell you exactly…I don’t have a crystal ball,” Spurrier told reporters. “But what we are doing now is putting us in the best position possible to be able to have that cricket match,” she said with a note of positivity.
A lockdown will help get back to normal life including having a cricket match of great significance. “The reason we are doing what we are doing is pretty drastic. We are doing it because we want to get back to the state of having just a few restrictions and to be able to do things like have the cricket,” added Spurrier.
Before the Tests, India and Australia will be locking horns in a limited-overs series. It starts November 27 comprising three ODIs and as many T20 Internationals.