Cricket Australia vows that players, officials and fans will not be at risk during SCG Test

January 2, 2020

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Kevin Roberts has insisted that the health of players, officials and spectators will not be compromised during the upcoming Australia v New Zealand Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground this weekend.

The contest, which is due to get underway tomorrow, is taking place with Sydney shrouded in smoke from bushfires on the NSW South Coast and with extreme weather conditions forecast for Saturday, with 40 degree Celsius temperatures and high winds expected.

Vowing to put players, officials and fans at risk, Roberts stated “we won’t be putting the players’ health at risk, nor will we be putting the health of match officials, fans at the match or our own employees at risk.

“That is something we will be monitoring consistently through the five days’ play. It’s a day-by-day proposition.”

Explaining that Cricket Australia has been working closely with the International Cricket Council (ICC), which is the sanctioning body for the match, as well as environment agencies, Roberts added “it’s fair to say it’s a collaborative exercise and we will continue to take advice from the experts.”

While greater Sydney is not directly impacted by the bushfires, if smoke reaches the ground and visibility or air quality becomes an issue, play could be stopped.

That decision would rest with ICC match referee and former West Indian Test great Richie Richardson and the umpires, based on monitoring of air quality readings.

Although Richardson has the final say, Cricket Australia will have heavy involvement and has been communicating with match officials and the ICC over smoke protocols.

Doctors will be told to provide officials with feedback from players, particularly if they are having difficulty breathing or experience sore eyes.

Ongoing bushfires across NSW and eastern Victoria have seen more than 10 deaths, the damage to huge area of forests and the destruction of hundreds of homes.

A Big Bash League Twenty20 match was called off in Canberra before Christmas because of smoke haze and conditions deemed unhealthy for players.

Australia’s one-day series against New Zealand in March will generate funds for towns that have suffered during the bushfires, while signed playing gear from the recent Boxing Day Test between the two teams will also be auctioned off to support victims of the fires.

Image: Fans at the SCG for the 'Pink' New Year Test.

31st December 2019 - Heroic effort by zookeepers saves Mogo Wildlife Park from devastating bushfires

30th December 2019 - Research finds Australian cricket not ready for challenges of climate change

30th December 2019 - Total fire ban and poor air quality sees cancellation of Canberra’s New Year’s Eve fireworks

28th December 2019 - New Year’s Eve fireworks to go ahead in Sydney despite petition calling for cancellation

28th December 2019 - Tourists told to reconsider travel plans to bushfire affected NSW South Coast

21st December 2019 - Smoke from bushfires forces abandonment of Big Bash League match in Canberra

18th December 2019 - Toyota and Cricket Australia partner to help kit out girls’ cricket teams

15th December 2019 - Cricket welcomes Federal Government funding towards the WACA Ground

3rd December 2019 - Cricket Australia refuses gambling sponsor for Big Bash League

4th November 2019 - SCG to again host Test rugby

1st November 2019 - Cricket Australia records $18 million operating surplus through a year of ‘healing’

20th September 2019 - International sport bodies unite to combat climate change

10th September 2019 - New report highlights the impact of climate change on cricket

2nd July 2019 - Cricket NSW objects to plans for drop-in pitch at the SCG

6th June 2019 - Tennis Australia commits to United Nations climate change action

22nd May 2019 - SCG introduces technology to reduce food and beverage queues

6th February 2019 - Climate change set to impact Australia’s summer sporting calendar

1st February 2015 - Report suggests elite and grassroots sport at risk from climate change

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