Will Tim Paine and co. put forth a big OUTRAGEOUS demand to tour South Africa?

Australia are slated to travel to South Africa next month for a three-match Test series. However, schedule for contest hasn't been finalised yet due to COVID-19 situation in country. South Africa has witnessed a significant surge in coronavirus cases, recording thousands of new cases every day throughout month of December.

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Cricket Australia make wild demand ahe of South Africa tour

second wave of virus also affected England's tour of South Africa recently. Multiple fixtures were postponed and subsequently cancelled after a number of players and hotel staff tested positive for virus. Looking at deteriorating situation in country, Cricket Australia have me a wild demand ahe of tour. 

As reported by  Daily Telegraph, Cricket Australia are likely to demand  hotel staff in South Africa to quarantine for three weeks before Australian Test squ arrives to ensure biosecurity bubble is safe. While speaking to Australian scribes on Wednesday, CA’s high-performance boss Ben Oliver said that y are doing everything y can to give tour every chance to be successful. 

Oliver ded that re are a number of fairly significant challenges in running international sport during a pandemic. He furr said that y have been fortunate to have relatively low cases of COVID-19 in Australia, however, he ackwledged unfortunate second wave of this virus in South Africa. Oliver assured that y are working hard with Cricket South Africa to establish all of protocols that would sit around environment in which teams would need to operate.

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Oliver reassured that y are working hard with Australian authorities on making sure that y’ve got clear and safe pass going into and out of South Africa. However, he mitted that re are a couple of key considerations of tour that y need to work through. Oliver reiterated that y’ll keep health and safety of ir players, staff and community at absolute forefront of ir minds.

Cricket Australia anunce Australia squ for South Africa Tests 2021

Cricket Australia on Wednesday anunced Test and T20I squs for  South Africa vs Australia 2021 and New Zealand vs Australia 2021 series respectively that are slated to commence next month. tably, Australia have named five uncapped players in 19-man Test squ against Proteas with middle-order batsman Matw We being axed from side after his abysmal show against India in Border-Gavaskar Trophy that hosts lost 1-2.

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We's exclusion from Test squ doesn't come as a surprise as southpaw played all four Test matches against India and could only man 173 runs across eight innings at a dismal aver of 21.62. Among uncapped players, Sean Abbott, Michael Neser and Mitchell Swepson, who were in Australian squ for series against India, have retained ir places for  South Africa vs Australia 2021 series. On or hand, Queensland pacer Mark Steketee has earned a maiden Test call up for series against Proteas.

Remarkably, Australia's Test skipper Tim Paine, who was under immense scrutiny for his leership as well as poor glovework against India, has mand to retain his place as skipper of side. Or than that, Test squ is pretty much similar to one that Aussies selected against India.

Australia squ for South Africa Tests 2021: Tim Paine (Captain & Wicketkeeper), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis He, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.

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SOURCE: CRICKET.COM.AU