The Bellerive Oval in Hobart is set to become the first Tasmanian venue to host a men’s Ashes Test, as they will be hosting the visiting English unit in a day-night Test to round off this edition of the Ashes. This will also be the first occasion when two pink-ball Tests will be held in the same series, with the second Test in Adelaide also being a day-night affair.
The fifth Test, which was originally set to be hosted by Perth, had to be moved away due to the ongoing travel restrictions in the state. It was going to be the first day-night Test to be hosted in Western Australia, and with them losing this opportunity, the Tasmanian venue has been promised the same slot.
Hobart were chosen to host this Test as they had lost the opportunity to welcome Afghanistan for a one-off Test, a game called off by Cricket Australia as a mark of protest against the Taliban’s Sharia Laws, which prevent equality for women in their country. The venue was eventually pushed to get an Ashes Test and was endorsed by the state government and Prime Minister Scott Morrison as well.
This will be the first Test hosted at the Bellerive Oval since 2016. The last visiting team to enter Tasmania for a Test match were South Africa, who were smashed apart by the hosts and lost by an innings and 80 runs. Having played hosts to a Test match for the first time in 1989, this will be the 14th long-format game, which will be played at this venue.
“We are delighted to announce that Blundstone Arena in Hobart will be hosting an Ashes Test match for the first time and thank the Tasmanian government for its support.
I would like to thank all the states and territories who took part in this process. The submissions we received were outstanding and we had no doubt that each of the venues that took part would have hosted a wonderful event,”
Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said on Saturday.
Australia won the 1st Test by a thumping margin and are keen on regaining the Ashes, having retained it on their last visit to England, where the series finished 2-2.
