Ashes finale won't be played in Perth

Cricket Australia has confirmed the fifth Vodafone Ashes Test won't be staged in Perth as originally scheduled due to Western Australia's stringent COVID-19 travel restrictions, but a decision on where the potential series decider will be played is yet to be finalised.

Tasmania Premier Peter Gutwein has been a vocal proponent to have the match switched to Hobart after Blundstone Arena was denied the opportunity to host the now-postponed Test between Afghanistan and Australia.

Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney have also been touted as possible venues for the fixture after it became apparent Perth's chances were dimming.

The final match in Test cricket's oldest rivalry was due to be played from January 14-18 at Perth's Optus Stadium, the first time the newly developed 60,000-seat venue had hosted an Ashes encounter.

However, following the emergence of the virus' new Omicron variant last month, WA Premier Mark McGowan reaffirmed the state's hardline stance on quarantine rules on arrivals from New South Wales.

Under those protocols, players, their families, as well as match and broadcast staff travelling to Perth after completion of the fourth Test in Sydney (January 5-9) would be required to complete 14 days quarantine upon arrival in WA.

"It's up to them whether they want to adhere to those rules or not," McGowan said at the time.

The stance led WA Cricket Association chief executive Christina Matthews to concede the Perth hosting the proposed Test had reduced from around 97 per cent to 50-50, with CA confirming today those odds had now reduced to zero.

"While absolutely every effort was made to ensure the final Test match of the series could be staged in Perth, border controls, quarantine requirements and the complexities of staging a five-Test series in a tight schedule have meant it is unfortunately not possible to align the respective priorities of the WA Government, CA and WA Cricket," CA said in a statement.

"These complexities also mean that any suggestion of changing the order of the venues would not be feasible.

"Discussions about a replacement venue for the fifth Test match are underway."

CA's confirmation the order of the Tests would not change comes after WA Sport and Recreation Minister Tony Buti aired an audacious proposal for the second Vodafone Test – a day-night fixture to be played at Adelaide Oval from December 16-20 – to be shifted to Perth, with Adelaide hosting the series finale in January.

Under WA's current COVID-19 border requirements, travellers arriving from Brisbane are not required to quarantine.

"If cricket isn't able to meet our border rules for (the) fifth Test in Perth, then they should move the second Test to Perth instead," Buti told The West Australian newspaper yesterday.

"It's a no-brainer. As long as Queensland stays COVID-free, then the teams can fly in (from Brisbane) ahead of the pink-ball day-night Test.

"The simple solution would be to bring that Test here while South Australia manages its COVID outbreak.

"Adelaide can then host the fifth Test originally scheduled for Perth."

The suggestion drew a quick and curt response from the South Australian Cricket Association who confirmed Adelaide Oval will host the second Test as planned, and noting there had been no formal discussion of it being staged elsewhere.

"The Second Vodafone Ashes Test will proceed at Adelaide Oval in ten days' time," SACA acting chief executive Jodie Newton said in a statement today. "There has been no suggestion that a schedule change for the Adelaide Test will be considered."

Today's decision means Perth will not host a men's international for the second consecutive summer after the pandemic and border restrictions robbed the city of last year's proposed historic first Test between Australia and Afghanistan.

Despite that, CA and the WACA stressed they remain "committed to continue bringing elite cricket to WA".

The Weber WBBL final was held at Optus Stadium last month with more than 15,000 fans seeing the Perth Scorchers take out the title in a record crowd for a standalone match.

The men's Scorchers are due to host Brisbane Heat in their KFC BBL opener on Wednesday and then Hobart Hurricanes on December 20, with both matches to be played under strict quarantine conditions.

The Scorchers' December 11 home game originally meant to be played at Optus Stadium against Adelaide Strikers has been moved to the Sydney Showgrounds due to border issues.

"We are extremely disappointed for our members, fans, commercial partners and the wider WA cricket community as well as all our staff and players who have been looking forward to and planning for the first ever Ashes to be played at Perth Stadium," the WACA said in a statement today.

"This decision will not waiver our efforts to bring live cricket to Perth this summer as we continue to work closely with Cricket Australia and the WA Government.

"With world-class facilities and the opportunity for cricket fans to attend matches we maintain that WA is well-positioned to host elite cricket, including Big Bash League matches."  

Vodafone Men's Ashes

Squads

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

England: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Schedule

First Test: December 8-12, The Gabba

Second Test: December 16-20, Adelaide Oval

Third Test: December 26-30, MCG

Fourth Test: January 5-9, SCG

Fifth Test: January 14-18, TBC