Perth misses out on Ashes Test

Perth will not host the fifth Ashes Test match this summer, Cricket Australia have confirmed in a statement.
It was scheduled to be played at Optus Stadium from January 14 – 18, but border restrictions have made it “not possible”.
A decision on a replacement venue is yet to be made.
WA Cricket CEO Christina Matthews told Oliver Petersson
“We’re always looking for someone to blame but at the end of the day, we’re in a pandemic. The state has certain rules, Cricket Australia has certain needs and it just couldn’t come together…It’s just the way it is.”
Matthews went on to confirm that the broadcast crews were a part of the issue, “There’s only a small group of people who can do Hawk Eye, Spider Cam and camera crews who would be a part of the crowd.”
While every effort was made the ensure the fifth Vodafone #Ashes Test match could be staged in Perth, it is unfortunately not possible to align the respective priorities of the WA Government, CA and WA Cricket.
We’ll provide an update on the replacement venue in due course. pic.twitter.com/P8PqeMqcYB
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) December 6, 2021
Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images