Former captain Michael Clarke says Test cricket will be finished in Australia if Adelaide’s bold plan to take the New Year’s Test match away from Sydney is approved.
As revealed by the Herald and The Age, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) have approached CA about trying to move the New Year’s Test from the Sydney Cricket Ground to the Adelaide Oval.
SACA is frustrated that Adelaide is set to host another Test against the West Indies next summer.
Clarke, a born and bred New South Welshman, has criticised the idea of taking the January Test away from Sydney.
“Not happening,” Clarke said on his Big Sports Breakfast radio program. “Can’t take Boxing Day from the MCG and you can’t take New Year’s away from the SCG, [an] absolute no-brainer. The day that stops is the day Test cricket is finished in this country.
“Their [Adelaide] Test match is perfect, when they’ve got it, under lights, it’s perfect, it’s working so well. Why would they want to change that?”
Michael Clarke celebrates his triple century at the SCG in 2012.Credit:Getty Images
Malinauskas confirmed the report on Friday morning, saying he didn’t want South Australia to be “forgotten” or “taken for granted”.
“There have been rumours floating around that Adelaide, yet again, will have a Test match hosting West Indies in the summer coming up after this one, which will be two years in a row,” Malinauskas told ABC Radio Adelaide.
“I think if those rumours have any substance, it’s pretty outrageous.”
“We’re happy to support any proposition that stacks up and derives a better outcome for the state’s economy.
“Obviously our major events policies [are] already yielding dividends in that regard.”
The Sydney Test has become synonymous with wet weather recently, prompting calls for the first match of the calendar year to be moved.
Venues NSW declined to comment on Friday. Cricket NSW and Premier Dominic Perrottet’s office have been contacted for comment.
Venues NSW chairman Tony Shepherd was emphatic during last month’s SCG Test that the match would stay in Sydney.
“There is absolutely no way the New Year’s match is being moved from the SCG,” Shepherd said. “It’s a long tradition, it’s a fantastic tradition. Half of the Australian team comes from NSW, including the skipper.”
SACA president Will Rayner told The Age and the Herald on Thursday evening: “We believe SACA’s got a compelling case in front of Cricket Australia that shows that our premium product deserves premium scheduling. We really look forward to working with them to ensure that continues for our members.”
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