Furious South Australian premier erupts at Cricket Australia for ripping off his state as the Australia vs West Indies Test becomes a laughing stock
SA Premier is seething at Cricket Australia officials Test against West Indies was over inside three days South Australia also lost day-night Test to Brisbane Previously hosted pink ball Tests since 2015
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has angrily lashed out at Cricket Australia for ripping off his state after the first Test against the West Indies ended in embarrassing fashion on Friday.
Pat Cummins’ men required just 26 runs to go up 1-0 in the series, with fans denied the chance to see their heroes in the flesh over the weekend after the ‘contest’ was decided before lunch on day three.
The ABC later confirmed it was the shortest Test ever played in Adelaide.
With Brisbane to host the day-night Test starting next week at the Gabba instead of its usual venue at Adelaide Oval, serious questions are being asked about CA’s scheduling.
A seething Malinauskas didn’t mince his words about the matter on ABC Radio.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has accused Cricket Australia of short-changing his state after the Test against the West Indies ended in embarrassing fashion on Friday
Australia won by 10 wickets in what was the shortest Test ever played in Adelaide (pictured, star batter Steve Smith)
‘The Adelaide Test gets bigger crowds than the SCG Test … and here’s Cricket Australia saying to all those South Australians who have shown up and paid their money … we are going to relegate your schedule to midweek cricket against a lower opposition because we are going to take you for granted,’ he said.
‘I think someone’s got to call that out.’
Malinauskas doubled down on his criticism in an interview with Adelaide radio station FIVEaa.
‘It was odds-on to not go for a long time, which is why I am a bit filthy on Cricket Australia for starting the test on Wednesday,’ he said.
‘What possible justification is there for that?
‘There must be some perplexing reason to do with scheduling or something but I don’t think anything can justify starting a Test match on a Wednesday against a second-rate nation that we’ve played two years in a row.’
In disappointing scenes, the first Test started on Wednesday, ensuring crowd figures were nowhere near a sell-out.
Adelaide also previously hosted the increasingly popular day-night Tests dating back to 2015, with pink balls becoming synonymous with the city’s annual game.
Aussie star Usman Khawaja retired hurt after being left bleeding from the mouth when he was struck by a delivery from young Windies sensation Shamar Joseph
Joseph was the only bright spot for the undermanned and badly outgunned Windies in Adelaide as he took a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket on his way to five scalps in Australia’s first innings (pictured)
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley confirmed on SEN Radio that Adelaide was scheduled as a day Test so the Big Bash finals – starting on Friday night with the Brisbane Heat taking on the Sydney Sixers – wouldn’t present a scheduling drama for fans.
On the field, paceman Josh Hazlewood snared 5-35 from 14 overs as the tourists were bowled out for 120 in their second innings.
During the comically brief run chase, Usman Khawaja retired hurt after he was struck on the chin by a short ball.
The hosts still cruised to victory by 10 wickets, with the electric performance of debutant Shamar Joseph the sole highlight for the Windies.
The raw paceman belted 36 batting at No.11 in the first innings and then took five Australian wickets, including the prized scalp of Steve Smith with his first ball in Test cricket.