Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein says the Western Australian government is “scrambling” to put together its plan to host the fifth Ashes Test this summer, as he ramped up his bid to steal the showpiece fixture.
Gutwein’s comments come as Tasmania looks to secure the Test and have it moved away from Perth due to the state’s uncertainty surrounding its border and vaccination protocols.
The Tasmanian Premier confirmed he had been in touch with Cricket Australia surrounding a potential switch of venues, with the fifth Test currently scheduled for January 14.
Western Australia is expected to open up its borders in late January or early February once 90 per cent of the state’s population over the age of 12 are double vaccinated.
“I wrote formally to Cricket Australia – I’ve had a number of discussions with them over the last five to six weeks,” Gutwein told SEN.
“We’re very keen to have that Test played here.
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“I do see the West Australian government is scrambling a bit at the moment, offering some sort of quarantine lite should they be able to have the Test.
“Even if they drop and change their rules so they can have the Test, the border rules means thousands still couldn’t see the Test live, whereas they could in Tasmania. I think we have a really strong case to push.”
The Ashes series had been in doubt after both the England and Wales Cricket Board and its players voiced concerns over the restrictive health and travel protocols in Australia.
Several players including captain Joe Root had refused to commit to the series before further information regarding the travel restrictions and how it would affect the travelling families was made clear.
“I feel very firmly we are one of the safest places on the planet here in Tasmania. WA has lagged and failed with its vaccination program. They are behind everyone else in the country,” the Tasmanian Premier added.
“The difference between the states is quite simply that WA has not been able to keep up with its vaccination program, they will be opening up later.
“Even if they do let the cricket come across, there will be thousands of sports-loving Aussies and travelling Barmy army that won’t be able to enter.
“I think we have a really strong case.”
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Gutwein said it would be unfair to force the players into another quarantine stint.
“I think the players are pretty clear in their thinking around this,” he said.
“The country is moving forward and I think would be a retrograde step if the players had to go back into quarantine to hold a Test in Perth.”
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