Australia cancels all cricket because of coronavirus

The country's first-class competition Sheffield Shield was called off on Tuesday, with New South Wales declared the champion.

Published : Mar 17, 2020 10:32 IST , SYDNEY

Representative image: New South Wales has been declared Sheffield Shield winner
Representative image: New South Wales has been declared Sheffield Shield winner
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Representative image: New South Wales has been declared Sheffield Shield winner

Australia's domestic Sheffield Shield was called off on Tuesday because of the coronavirus pandemic with New South Wales declared champion as all cricket nationwide was halted.

The last round of the tournament had already been cancelled to reduce travel and the final has followed suit to leave New South Wales, which led after nine rounds of the inter-state competition, as the winner.

Read: COVID-19: BCCI asks employees to work from home

Australia's three-match one-day international series against New Zealand, being played with no spectators, had been abandoned at the weekend with Australia 1-0 up after Wellington tightened border restrictions to combat a spread of the virus.

Cricket Australia chief Kevin Roberts recommended that all community cricket should stop and shut down the organisation's offices with staff working from home.

“By effectively cancelling the remainder of our season, Cricket Australia is playing its part in protecting fans, players, staff, volunteers and match officials during this unprecedented global health issue,” he said.

“These are difficult decisions, but the right ones in the circumstances.”

Australia has confirmed nearly 400 cases of coronavirus so far, with five fatalities.

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