Sports Minister Martin Pakula says Victoria’s case for the fifth Ashes Test is undeniable

The Melbourne sports area could become a world sports hub in mid-January when the Victorian government declared the Fifth Ashes Test at MCG to be “undisputed”.

Cricket Australia has launched a tender in which Melbourne favored the test submitted by Hobart and Sydney on 14-18. January, after it decided to move it from Perth due to pandemic restrictions.

The timing of the match – which Cricket Australia has declared a day-night match – means the last two days of the Ashes series between Australia and England will overlap with the two opening days of the Australian Open, creating a sports festival. county.

Victorian Minister of Sports, Tourism and Major Events Martin Pakula said Age the state’s case for holding both the traditional Midsummer Day test and the historic day-night encounter was “indisputable.”

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He said MCG’s 100,000 capacity prevented other states from comparing Victoria in commercial terms, and Melbourne sports fans certainly arrived on the scene.

“We have the opportunity to play the day-evening test on MCG’s consecrated lawn for the first time – and it’s starting the Ashes Test,” Pakula said.

“For players – both for the Australians and for the tour English team – the opportunity to play the evening of Ashes Test’ G is something we don’t think they want to miss.

“At any level you look at this, and especially given that MCG has rested since the Boxing Day test, this match will be played very strongly at MCG, and we hope Cricket Australia will see things the same way.”