If Cricket Australia wants the best arena, the biggest crowds, the best facilities, the best atmosphere, then it should accept Melbourne as host. The Age does not apologise for pointing out these truths. They are, or should be, self-evident | EDITORIAL ...
Most of Australia may now be vaccinated, but COVID chaos is still disrupting sporting events and forcing them to be dispatched around the country. To the chagrin of Victorians, Western Australia won the battle to host the AFL grand final earlier this year after the MCG became a no-go zone for crowds for the second year running. Only months later, the tables have been turned.
But Hobart’s David is now up against the Australian sporting Goliaths of Sydney and Melbourne. Sydney will host the fourth Test from January 5 to 9 and is lobbying for everyone involved to stay put for a few days, then repeat – except the second time around would involve a pink ball and a day-night format.
As for cricket, there is no other arena in Australia with the long history and tradition of the MCG. In 1877, the first Test match between Australia and England was played there, as was the first one-day international match in 1971. It has the record for the world’s biggest crowd for both men’s and women’s cricket.Of course, the fifth test could go to Hobart. We would applaud that politely. Or Sydney.