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Coronavirus: Australia 'trying everything' to ensure India Test series goes ahead
Written by Sports Desk. Posted in ICC Test Championship. | 21 April 2020 | 1813 Views
Tags: Cricket, Australia, Icc Test Championship, India

Cricket Australia are considering all options to ensure the Test series against India goes ahead as scheduled later in 2020, including hosting all matches at the Adelaide Oval.

With Australia and many of the world's nations still in lockdown amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, sport in the country is suspended indefinitely.

India are scheduled to tour Australia from October to January, with four Tests planned along with three ODIs and three Twenty20 matches.

The T20 games are set to go ahead before the T20 World Cup, which is still due to take place in Australia between October and November.

While doubt remains over whether the tournament or tour will be able to go ahead, Cricket Australia’s chief executive Kevin Roberts is open to exploring every option.

"At this point, we won't rule anything out in terms of the Indian series," Roberts told reporters. 

"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.

"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.

"That's our focus. And we are planning for that and trying everything we can to make that happen."

One possibility that has been mooted is holding every match in Adelaide, with players housed in the ground's hotel - a solution Australia bowler Josh Hazlewood would be open to.

"It's obviously a last resort I guess," he said on Monday.

"But I think if anywhere could do it, it's probably Adelaide. It gives a bit to both batting and bowling. It's not ideal. We want to get around to all parts of Australia and challenge ourselves on all those different conditions, but if it had to happen, that's probably one of the best spots for it."