Tasmania’s snap lockdown causes chaos for WBBL

Southern Tasmania’s snap lockdown has thrown the WBBL schedule into chaos just one day after the tournament began.

The Apple Isle is set to host all but four of this month’s 28 WBBL matches, but the three-day lockdown announced on Friday has meant that at least the four games set for this weekend will be rescheduled or played in front of empty stands.

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On Friday afternoon, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein said the lockdown could force Melbourne Renegades v Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers, Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers to be postponed.

“We’re currently working through it. If they do go ahead, bearing in mind that there are national and international matters to consider here with broadcasts,” he said.

“If they do go ahead, they will go ahead with no crowds and with the players in a bubble.”

The Scorchers have delayed their travel to Tasmania by 24 hours and say they will monitor the state’s Covid-19 situation.

Tasmania’s director of public health Mark Veitch refused to rule out the possibility of extending the lockdown beyond Monday evening. Eleven more games could be affected if stay-at-home orders were issued for the remainder of next week.

In a statement released on Friday afternoon, Cricket Australia said it was in dialogue with the Tasmanian Government and would comply with its directives.

“The health and safety of our players, staff, match officials and partners, along with that of the wider community, remains our top priority,” CA said.

“We are currently working with the Tasmanian Government on options for the upcoming Weber WBBL|07 matches at Blundstone Arena, Hobart this weekend.

“All players, staff and match officials in Tasmania for the Weber WBBL have received Covid-19 vaccinations and received the required negative Covid-19 test results. All are currently participating in training at Blundstone Arena or at team hotels.”

Acting on health advice, Gutwein announced the lockdown on Friday after a 31-year-old man who flew to Hobart from Melbourne without an appropriate border pass escaped from hotel quarantine.

Police located the man at a home in the northern suburbs of Hobart on Tuesday, and in the days that followed, he returned a positive Covid-19 test.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Gutwein confirmed the man would be fined at least $3000 for his breach.

The lockdown will affect southern Tasmania and will begin at 6pm on Friday night. It is set to conclude at 6pm on Monday, subject to public health advice.

“We simply cannot afford for an outbreak to occur and put the health and safety of Tasmanians, especially the health and safety of vulnerable Tasmanians, at risk while we get our vaccination rates up. We are at a crucial stage of the vaccination rollout,” Gutwein said on Friday afternoon.

“Therefore, on public health advice, as a result of the circumstances that we now face, there will be a three-day lockdown in southern Tasmania.”

Those in other areas of Tasmania are encouraged to remain vigilant and present for Covid-19 testing if they experience cold and flu symptoms.

More to come