Furious South Australian premier erupts at Cricket Australia for ripping off his state as the Australia vs West Indies Test becomes a laughing stock
- SA Premier is furious with Cricket Australia officials
- The Test against West Indies was over within three days
- South Australia also lost the day-night Test to Brisbane
- Previously hosted pink ball Tests since 2015
South Australian Prime Minister Peter Malinauskas has angrily lashed out at Cricket Australia for defrauding his state after the first Test against the West Indies ended in embarrassing fashion on Friday.
Pat Cummins’ men needed just 26 runs to go 1-0 in the series, with fans denied the chance to see their heroes in real life this weekend after the ‘match’ was decided before lunch on day three .
The ABC later confirmed it was the shortest Test ever played in Adelaide.
With Brisbane hosting the day-night Test at the Gabba next week instead of the usual Adelaide Oval venue, serious questions are being asked about CA’s schedule.
A seething Malinauskas did not mince his words on the issue on ABC Radio.
South Australian Prime Minister Peter Malinauskas has accused Cricket Australia of short-changing his position after the Test against the West Indies ended in embarrassing fashion on Friday
Australia won by 10 wickets in what was the shortest Test ever played in Adelaide (photo, star batsman Steve Smith)
‘The Adelaide Test gets a bigger crowd than the SCG Test… and here’s Cricket Australia saying to all those South Australians who turned up and paid their money… we’re going to downgrade your schedule to midweek cricket against lower opposition, because we’re going to take you for granted,β he said.
“I think someone needs to shout that out.”
Malinauskas doubled down on his criticism in an interview with Adelaide radio station FIVEaa.
βIt was a risk not going for a long time and that’s why I’m a bit nasty on Cricket Australia for starting the Test on Wednesday,β he said.
‘What possible justification is there for that?
“There must be some confusing reason to do with scheduling or something, but I don’t think anything can justify starting a Test match on Wednesday against a second-tier country that we have played two years in a row.”
In disappointing scenes, the first Test started on Wednesday, leaving the crowd far from sold out.
Adelaide also previously hosted the increasingly popular day-night Tests dating back to 2015, with pink balls becoming synonymous with the city’s annual fixture.
Australian star Usman Khawaja retired injured after being left bleeding from the mouth when he was hit by a delivery from young Windies sensation Shamar Joseph
Joseph was the only bright spot for the undermanned and poorly armed Windies in Adelaide as he took a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket on his way to five scalps in Australia’s first innings (pictured)
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley confirmed on SEN Radio that Adelaide had been scheduled as a one-day Test so the Big Bash final – which starts on Friday night with the Brisbane Heat against the Sydney Sixers – would not cause scheduling drama for fans.
On the field, pacer Josh Hazlewood scored 5-35 from 14 overs as the tourists were bowled out for 120 in their second innings.
During the comically short chase, Usman Khawaja stopped injured after being hit on the chin by a short ball.
The hosts still cruised to victory with a 10-wicket lead, with debutant Shamar Joseph’s electric performance being the only highlight for the Windies.
The raw paceman batted 36 at number 11 in the first innings and went on to take five Australian wickets, including the prized scalp of Steve Smith with his first ball in Test cricket.