NSW health minister Brad Hazzard has guaranteed Sydney’s prized New Year’s Test won’t be moved interstate as a result of COVID isolation rules.
All close contacts in NSW have to isolate for seven days, while currently in Victoria those who are deemed close contacts of positive cases are only required to isolate until a negative test is returned.
While there were fears that Cricket Australia would look to shift the fourth Ashes Test elsewhere, Mr Hazzard said that isolation rules in the state would be tweaked in order for the match to take place as scheduled
“The SCG Test is sacred, an important date at the start of the third year of our life with COVID-19,” he said on Tuesday morning.
“I want to assure the cricket-loving public, under our rules any players with exposure to a known case of COVID-19 would be asked to test and isolate only until a negative result was received.
“If there are any cases within the teams, their support staff, or families, we will work with the people involved to ensure they are safe, and there is as little disruption to others as possible.”
The Sydney Test will commence on January 5.