Cummins captaincy debut in doubt as Vic lockdown casts clouds over domestic season

Victoria’s third lockdown has plunged the Sheffield Shield season into chaos and left plans for Pat Cummins’ debut as NSW captain in the air, as Cricket Australia scrambles to avoid an occurrence not seen since war time.

Australian cricket’s money spinners – the international season and the respective Big Bash Leagues – have been run and won but there is uncertainty over the domestic competitions which form the nursery for future national stars.

Victoria’s snap lockdown could see the state’s Marsh Cup game against NSW moved. The match was to be Pat Cummins’ first as captain of a senior side.Credit:Getty

If the exemptions were not granted, Victoria’s players would not be able to play the games as scheduled. The side had been considering flying to Sydney on Friday night to beat the 11:59pm start of lockdown but those plans were dependent on exemptions being given by NSW health authorities.

Victoria’s women’s players learned during the innings break they faced a five-day lockdown, while the NSW Breakers, which suffered their second successive loss, brought forward its flight home from Sunday to Friday night.

The Marsh Cup game on Monday was to be a significant milestone in CA’s leadership succession planning as Test and limited-overs vice-captain Cummins had been due to captain his first match at senior level.

With South Australia’s border shut to Victoria, NSW’s Shield match against the Vics, slated to start February 25 at the MCG, may have to be moved to Sydney so that the Blues would be able to play their March 6-9 game against the Redbacks in Adelaide.

A minimum of seven games, with each state to have played against each other at least once, is required otherwise the Shield will not be awarded. This has happened on 10 occasions – during World War I and II – since the time-honoured competition’s inception in 1892/93.

The Victorian men’s side played just two games before the BBL and may have to play the rest of the season on the road if health authorities in the state cannot control the COVID-19 cluster at a quarantine hotel. Players were briefed by CV cricket boss Shaun Graf on Friday.

“We’re worried by the fact we might not get games in,” Rogers said. “The schedule is for every side to play eight sides. For it to be a Shield season everyone needs to have played seven. There is an expectation or at least some wiggle room around the fact we might have some games cancelled.“

Victoria captain Meg Lanning said players would be flexible if the WNCL schedule needs changing.

“Players just want to play, even if it means last-minute changes, we’re happy with that,” Lanning said.

Victoria’s next game is not until Sunday week while the Breakers are scheduled to play Tasmania on February 25 in Hobart.

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