Chappell whacks SA bid to steal New Year's Test

1 year ago 48

Ian Chappell is South Australian and has a basal named successful his honour astatine Adelaide Oval.

But the erstwhile Test skipper can't representation the New Year's Test being stripped from the SCG and talented to the Adelaide venue.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) person approached Cricket Australia astir the anticipation of stealing the New Year's Test, according to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.

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Calls for the New Year's Test to beryllium relocated escalated as rainfall again wreaked havoc during Australia's lucifer against South Africa this year.

Not a shot was bowled connected time three, taking the fig of washed-out days successful SCG Tests to 26. That's 17 much days than the Australian venue with the second-highest fig of washed-out days: the MCG.

Rain has affected each 1 of the past 9 Sydney Tests, sixth of which person ended successful a draw.

But Chappell suspects South Australian powers would "have their enactment chopped out" successful their bid to pinch the New Year's Test.

"I mean, the SCG's got to beryllium 1 of the 2 main grounds (in Australia), evidently with the MCG," Chappell told Wide World of Sports.

"I deliberation Adelaide did a precise astute happening successful establishing themselves arsenic the day-night Test match, and I would person thought that would beryllium perfect for Adelaide, alternatively than trying to conflict and instrumentality that Test match.

"Cricket New South Wales has ever got to beryllium wary and they've got to beryllium connected their mettle, but I wouldn't beryllium excessively disquieted astir that.

"I mean, what tin you bash astir the upwind different than physique a bloody stadium with a extortion connected it? And who's going to physique that? They're not going to physique it successful Adelaide. OK, they're not going to person arsenic overmuch rain. They're surely not going to physique it successful Sydney."

The NSW authorities hasn't shown an appetite for stadium improvements successful caller times.

It scrapped plans for an $800 cardinal upgrade of Stadium Australia successful 2020, earlier binning a $250 cardinal pledge to put successful Sydney's suburban grounds successful 2022.

"You tin leap up and down," Chappell added.

"And you'd person to spell done longer records alternatively than conscionable caller records (when analysing weather).

"I wouldn't spot Cricket Australia immoderate further than I could propulsion 'em.

"But there's thing you tin bash astir the upwind different than physique a stadium with a extortion connected it, and successful my sentiment that's conscionable not going to happen.

"I don't deliberation there's overmuch the SCG tin bash astir it, but I don't spot them losing the SCG Test."

Shane Warne argued the Gabba should beryllium fixed the New Year's Test and the SCG the archetypal Test of the summer, truthful Sydney's inclement early-January upwind is avoided.

When that presumption of the precocious cricket fable was enactment to Chappell, helium brushed it disconnected arsenic biased.

"Well, Warnie had a terrific brain, but helium did talk a batch of Victoria-oriented stuff," Chappell said.

"And successful the clip I had with Warnie helium wasn't that inclined to Sydney, truthful I would instrumentality his comments with a atom of salt."

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