Cricket in turmoil after Covid-19 scare

On Tuesday morning, Queensland confirmed four new locally acquired Covid-19 cases, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk saying the government has been getting updates on the evolving situation throughout the morning.Queensland will be introducing mandatory vaccinations for truck drivers and mask rules will be reintroduced for parts of the state.In response, Cricket Australia has been forced to postpone the first-class match at Ian Healy Oval, which was scheduled to get underway at 10am local time.Watch Live Coverage of the 21/22 Marsh One-Day Cup Live & Free on Kayo Freebies. No Credit Card. No Brainer. Join Now“Cricket Australia advises that day one of the Sheffield match between Queensland and Tasmania, due to be played today, has been postponed,” Queensland Cricket said in a statement.“The match will now begin on Wednesday, September 29, subject to public health conditions.”CA later revealed the Tasmanian team had decided to fly home in response to the developing Covid-19 situation.“The match will be rescheduled to a new date later in the season, following the Tasmanian team’s decision to fly home today,” CA said in a statement.“Further updates regarding the scheduled Marsh One-Day Cup match between the two sides, due to be played this Sunday, October 3, will be provided in due course.“Cricket Australia and all State and Territory Associations will continue to make the health and safety of our players, staff, match officials, fans and the wider community our top priority as we look to execute a safe and successful summer of cricket.”Soon after, Cricket Tasmania released a statement explaining its decision to leave Queensland immediately. “This is not a decision that was taken lightly,” the statement read.“While the situation in Queensland hasn’t prevent the match from commencing today, a cautious and considered approach is being taken and it is our strong opinion that we are better having our players and staff home as we build a better understanding of the current landscape.“We look forward to playing the Queensland Bulls at the first opportunity. We thank Queensland Cricket and Cricket Australia for their understanding and flexibility with this match postponement, and we hope that this preventative measure will, with hindsight, not have been required.”Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja were among the high-profile players hoping to get their 2021/22 season underway on Tuesday morning.Meanwhile, the Australian women’s side is preparing for a historic day-night Test match against India, which gets underway at Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium on Thursday.As reported by The Courier Mail, there was no direct threat to the pink-ball match but that could change with any further Covid-19 setbacks.A leading infectious disease expert has warned Brisbane could find it very difficult to control its new cases unless the city goes into a snap lockdown.Epidemiologist Professor Mary-Louise McLaws told Channel 9’s Today that Queensland health authorities should be concerned about the two new mystery infections, adding the Delta variant poses a “serious threat” to the state.“This is very different from the non-Delta or the would strain or Alpha,” she told the program.“So, it is going to be hard work if they don’t do a quick sharp lockdown to try to get a handle on this and try to do as much testing of the community as fast as possible.”Professor McLaws also warned that the upcoming NRL grand final could become a “super spreading event” and called for the event to be postponed.“I would be surprised if they cancel it, but I personally think they should, so that they can get their vaccination rates up really high, otherwise what they are going to have is potentially an experience such as NSW or Victoria,” she said.“Having that game, I know they are looking forward to it, but it is going to be a potential spreading event.”– with Ally Foster Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au