MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia has confirmed the fifth Vodafone Ashes Test won't be staged in Perth as originally scheduled due to Western Australia's stringent COVID-19 travel restrictions, but a decision on where the potential series decider will be played is yet to be finalised.
The Blundstone Arena in Hobart, which was scheduled to host a Test against Afghanistan in November before it was postponed in the wake of the Taliban takeover of the country, is favourite to take over hosting rights for the fifth Test.
"While absolutely every effort was made to ensure the final Test match of the series could be staged in Perth, border controls, quarantine requirements and the complexities of staging a five-Test series in a tight schedule have meant it is unfortunately not possible to align the respective priorities of the WA Government, CA and WA Cricket," CA said in a statement.
"These complexities also mean that any suggestion of changing the order of the venues would not be feasible.
"Discussions about a replacement venue for the fifth Test match are underway."
Ashes Schedule
First Test: December 8-12, The Gabba
Second Test: December 16-20, Adelaide Oval
Third Test: December 26-30, MCG
Fourth Test: January 5-9, SCG
Fifth Test: January 14-18, TBC
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