The Sheffield Shield match between Queensland and Tasmania has been postponed following a number of COVID-19 infections.
The Sheffield Shield match between Queensland and Tasmania has been postponed following a number of COVID-19 infections in Brisbane.
On Tuesday morning, Queensland was rocked by the emergence of two new mystery cases, and health authorities are scrambling to find the unknown source.
In response, Cricket Australia has been forced to postpone the first-class match at Ian Healy Oval, which was scheduled to get underway at 10am local time.
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“Cricket Australia advises that day one of the Sheffield match between Queensland and Tasmania, due to be played today, has been postponed,” Queensland Cricket said in a statement.
“The match will now begin on Wednesday, September 29, subject to public health conditions.”
Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja were among the high-profile players hoping to get their 2021/22 season underway on Tuesday morning.
A leading infectious disease expert has warned Brisbane could find it very difficult to control its new mystery cases unless the city goes into a snap lockdown.
Epidemiologist Professor Mary-Louise McLaws told Channel 9’s Today that Queensland health authorities should be concerned about the two new mystery infections, adding the Delta variant poses a “serious threat” to the state.
“This is very different from the non-Delta or the would strain or Alpha,” she told the program.
“So, it is going to be hard work if they don’t do a quick sharp lockdown to try to get a handle on this and try to do as much testing of the community as fast as possible.”
Professor McLaws also warned that the upcoming NRL grand final could become a “super spreading event” and called for the event to be postponed.
“I would be surprised if they cancel it, but I personally think they should, so that they can get their vaccination rates up really high, otherwise what they are going to have is potentially an experience such as NSW or Victoria,” she said.
“Having that game, I know they are looking forward to it, but it is going to be a potential spreading event.”
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is due to speak to the media at 9.45am.
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