Boxing Day Test Match: Ashes vs IND-SA: It will be the complete mismatch as two big Test matches are slated to begin on December 26. On one side around 70,000 fans are expected to flock at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the India vs South Africa opener at SuperSport Park, Centurion will be played behind closed doors. The development comes amid the new COVID variant Omicron with its origins in the African continent. Follow Boxing Day Test- IND vs SA, AUS vs ENG LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Boxing Day Test Match: Ashes Boxing Day test to witness 70,000 fans at MCG as India vs South Africa test moves behind closed doors
AUS vs ENG LIVE
Boxing Day Test Match: 70,000 fans for MCG Test- Nearly 70,000 fans have expected to take part in the upcoming 3rd test between AUS vs ENG. Over 55,000 tickets have been sold for Boxing Day and the numbers are expected to rise with 3 days left for the upcoming match which will decide the fate of England in the ongoing Ashes.
The development comes as a huge boost for Melbourne which could only host 30,000 crowds during the India series last year. The decision is taken even as Victoria recorded 1503 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. The MCC has full faith in its COVID-19 protocols. Earlier, 32 games from the AFL season was conducted before the Delta wave.
As a precautionary measure, the fans have been asked to be all masked up, failing to do so will kick them out of MCG. Officials are awaiting a final ruling from the Department of Health on mask guidelines.
“There’s always risk [of a superspreader event], but we’ve got a COVID-safe plan in place for a reason,” MCC chief executive Stuart Fox told as quoted by Sydney Morning Herald.
“We’d encourage everyone to bring a mask at this point in time. When you’re in congested areas we’d encourage you to wear it,” he added.
Victoria Police said that strict actions will be taken against those who might repeatedly ignore the COVID protocols put in place.
Boxing Day Test Match: Ashes Boxing Day test to witness 70,000 fans at MCG as India vs South Africa test moves behind closed doors
IND vs SA LIVE
India tour of South-Africa – Series behind closed doors: Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Monday informed that owing to the increasing COVID-19 cases around the world, and the fourth wave locally, CSA along with the BCCI have taken a joint decision to protect the players and the tour by not making tickets available for India vs Proteas series.
India and South Africa will lock horns in three Tests and three ODIs. The first Test will be played in Centurion beginning December 26. “This decision was taken in order to avoid any breaches that could compromise the tour from a Covid-risk perspective and to also maintain a hazard-free bubble environment,” said CSA in an official release.
“At this stage, we would like to remind all cricket fans that the tour and the matches will still be broadcast on SuperSport and SABC platforms,” it added.
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