The Black Caps have qualified for this year s inaugural ICC World Test Championship final after Australia pulled out of next month s tour of South Africa.
The Black Caps will be joined by either India, England or Australia with the second spot being determined by the outcome of the India v England four-match test series.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The proposed three-match Test series between South Africa and Australia was postponed, with Cricket Australia (CA) citing the Covid-19 situation in South Africa as a deterrent.
In a statement, CA interim chief executive Nick Hockley said the tour had been postponed due to the unacceptable level of health and safety risk in South Africa, which is battling a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Cricket South Africa (CSA) has expressed its disappointment in the sudden postponement of this month s three-match Test series between the Proteas and Australia.
Cricket Australia (CA) on Tuesday revealed that their scheduled tour will not go ahead due to coronavirus fears.
In a statement released on Tuesday, CSA through its Director of Cricket
Graeme Smith said that CSA had held many detailed discussions with CA regarding Covid-19 protocols. These discussions included assessing and managing the Covid-19 risks and consulting with a range of leading medical experts including the SA Ministerial COVID Advisory Committee. CSA worked hard to meet the changing demands of our Australian counterparts, the statement read.
Cricket South Africa has delivered a scathing response to Cricket Australia s decision to postpone the upcoming Test series, which potentially spells financial catastrophe for the organisation. South Africa has endured a tumultuous second wave of COVID-19 this summer, recording thousands of new cases every day throughout December and January. During England s recent tour of South Africa, multiple fixtures were postponed after players and hotel staff tested positive for the virus. The country has been battling a mutant strain of the virus and currently has a positivity rate with its testing of 10 per cent.
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Director of Cricket Graeme Smith explained that quarantine protocols are the reason why the Proteas have selected a 'water-downed' T20 side in Pakistan.