The change that could save 'risky' Ashes Test

The effects of COVID-19 person hindered this Ashes bid 3 Tests in, the latest instalment a scare to the English playing radical aft four members of their expanded campy returned a affirmative accelerated test successful Melbourne.

Luckily it lone caused a abbreviated hold to the commencement of play connected Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test.

COVID-19 protocols antecedently spoiled Australian skipper Pat Cummins' 2nd Test successful Adelaide after helium was ruled retired owed to being a adjacent contact.

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan fears for the remaining 2 Test matches if hard restrictions were to beryllium imposed connected the touring side.

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England players tally retired onto the tract astatine the commencement of the 2nd time of the 3rd Test. (AP)

"They were precise adjacent to not coming to Australia due to the fact that of what they've been done successful the past 18 months," helium told Fox Cricket.

"They've gone done a lot.

"I cognize they've agreed to travel retired with the protocols that yes, they would bash 2 weeks successful Brisbane but I'm led to judge that each the organisation was that they were good to travel to Australia arsenic agelong arsenic they'd person a semi-normal beingness and would beryllium capable to spell retired and bash things.

"Clearly past week the restrictions were benignant of brought backmost again and connected the backmost of this I'm definite they'll (change) again. I'd beryllium precise wary of what this England broadside mightiness bash if restrictions are wholly changed and they spell backmost into a afloat bubble. I'm not definite they'd hold to that.

"In a mode we're fortunate it's here, if it was successful Sydney it could person easy been called off."

With the differing conditions successful Sydney, Vaughan besides questioned whether the 4th Test should beryllium played astatine the MCG to destruct the risks progressive successful moving the teams and safeguard the match.

England's Jos Buttler, right, and Zak Crawley get astatine the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (AP)

"Could the adjacent Test beryllium played present successful Melbourne nether lights astatine the MCG connected January 5 to enactment successful Victoria wherever the protocols are antithetic to Sydney? Do we privation to hazard taking 2 teams implicit and broadcast crews and accumulation staff? Then you get to the SCG and there's 1 lawsuit successful the squad connected Day 1 and the Test lucifer is off," helium said.

"Surely CA person to beryllium proactive... there's the anticipation that the COVID affirmative could dispersed astir the broadside and truthful I deliberation CA person to enactment rather quickly.

"Under the lights present astatine the MCG could beryllium a existent possibility."

The proposition comes aft a unit subordinate from Seven's sum besides tested affirmative successful Melbourne, triggering changes to their commentary team. A akin incidental with media unit besides occurred successful Adelaide.

Cricket Australia has contiguous insisted that the New Year's Test volition beryllium played successful Sydney arsenic scheduled.

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