MCG to host traditional Boxing Day Test as Cricket Australia releases itinerary for India series

There were major concerns leading into the Australian summer whether the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) would be able to host the traditional Boxing Day Test match this year. The number of COVID-19 cases had seen a surge in Victoria which forced the state to go into lockdown once again.

However, the coronavirus cases have seen a steep decline and the 112-day lockdown in Victoria has now been lifted. And that has meant that the MCG retains the Boxing Day Test match for the upcoming 2020-21 cricketing summer. Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed that as India are scheduled for a full-fledged tour, involving three ODIs, three T20Is and four Test matches.

CA released the itinerary for the entire tour which will kick off with the ODI series. The first two ODIs (November 27^th and 29^th) will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) before moving to the Manuka Oval in Canberra for the third ODI (December 2^nd) and first T20I (December 4^th). The teams return to the SCG for the last two T20Is (December 6^th and 8^th).

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (four-match Test series) kickstarts on the 17^th of December. The Adelaide Oval will host the first Test which will be a day-night encounter. The next two are the traditional Test matches in Australia with Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests. MCG and SCG have been retained as the venues.

The third Test which is the New Year’s Test is going to start a little later than usual and there is a week’s break between the second and the third Test. SCG which will host the New Year’s Test will start on the 7^th of January. Meanwhile, the fourth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy concludes the tour and the Gabba in Brisbane plays host to that and it will start on the 15th of January.

The entire Indian squad of 32 players which was picked earlier this week for all three formats (including the 28 players across all formats and four additional fast bowlers) will land in Sydney on the 12^th of November after the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which is being played in the UAE. They will undergo a 14-day quarantine in Sydney where they will also be allowed to train together. 

The Indian team will also play a couple of three-day practice games against Australia ‘A’. The first of those will be a red-ball game which will be played from December 6-8. It clashes with the last two T20Is but according to Cricbuzz, a lot of Test regulars are expected to turn up for the practice game. The second practice game will be a pink-ball game in the lead up to the first Test and it will be played from December 11-13.

“I would like to express my gratitude to everyone at the BCCI for the faith and support they have shown in the plan we have developed, which we believe will result in a safe and successful summer for all involved,” CA’s Interim Chief Executive Officer Nick Hockley was quoted saying.

He also confirmed that CA plans to have crowds involved for the Boxing Day Test. “In relation to the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, we are working with the Victorian Government and the Melbourne Cricket Club on plans to safely host spectators at the iconic event with details to be confirmed in due course. The safety of the Australian community and all participants is our highest priority and we will continue to work with governments across Australia to ensure the schedule proceeds in line with relevant directions and biosecurity protocols,” Hockley added.