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Perth is scheduled to host the fifth and final test from Jan. 14
but Colbeck said the Western Australia (WA) capital might have
to miss out because of the state's quarantine requirements.
Colbeck told Perth radio station 6PR players would not want to
quarantine for 14 days in Western Australia as would be required
if they played the preceding fourth test as scheduled in Sydney.
"We've had to do a lot of work to organise quarantine
arrangements for cricketers coming into Australia,” Colbeck
said.
"There's serious questions about whether there'll be a test
match in Perth this summer.
"If there's no chance of coming here without prolonged
quarantine, it just won’t occur."
The Ashes starts in Brisbane on Dec. 8, followed by tests in
Adelaide (Dec. 16), Melbourne (Dec. 26) and Sydney (Jan. 5).
Cricket Australia (CA) said it was planning for all tests as
scheduled.
England players have threatened to pull out of the series if
forced to adhere to Australia's strict quarantine regime and
have sought assurances that their families will be able to
travel to Australia and tour with them.
Australia's COVID-19 situation has thrown the schedule into
doubt, with COVID-free Western Australia loath to open its
borders while other states battle outbreaks.
Australia's federal government released a vague plan in July to
start easing quarantine restrictions and inter-state travel
curbs once 70% of adults are vaccinated, likely by the end of
October according to official projections.
But WA and Queensland, of which Brisbane is the capital, have
said they may keep borders shut for longer to avoid the risk of
their health systems being overwhelmed by COVID outbreaks.
WA Cricket boss Christina Matthews said the sport's state
governing body had asked CA to move the Perth match forward in
the schedule to avoid the quarantine snag.
“We know it is under real threat,” Matthews told The West
Australian newspaper.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
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