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Have to wear unfair fixtures: Finch

3 minute read

Aaron Finch says national, state and Big Bash League teams will all have to wear the fact they might be on the wrong side of an inequitable schedule in 2020-21.

AARON FINCH
AARON FINCH Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Aaron Finch has cautioned it will be impossible for Cricket Australia (CA) to produce a truly equitable schedule for 2020-21 as it attempts to weave a path through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Uncertainty continues to cloud the domestic and international program.

CA has announced fixtures for the BBL and WBBL seasons plus India's lucrative four-Test tour, but the growing expectation is some will change.

CA chairman Earl Eddings met with state counterparts plus Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) boss Greg Dyer last week, with much of the discussion focused on different scheduling options.

Australian cricket's governing body has learned from the AFL and NRL's response to the health crisis, but its challenge is arguably more complex given it must draw up plans for five domestic competitions on top of men's and women's international series.

Pitch preparation and other issues mean that rolling fixtures, like the AFL opted for as it reacted to the Victorian coronavirus outbreak and other issues, will be tricky.

National white-ball captain Finch, who sits on the ACA board, suggested the structure of Australia's rejigged domestic season is still being worked out.

"It's unrealistic to expect we're going to end up with a scenario that works best for everyone" Finch said.

"People are going to be in situations that aren't ideal.

"Things are going to benefit one state or one country or one Big Bash team over another, but that's fine.

"You have to wear that.

"We all have to be in it (together) and compromise.

"You have to understand this isn't normal ... we have to all get our heads around that and do whatever is possible to keep the game running."

Finch said a lot would come down to "each state's restrictions, what is practical and feasible".

"It's going to be a really interesting one and I don't think we can make a definitive decision on that at the moment," he said.

"Because what you decide today might be totally different in two days."

Finch, who will depart on Sunday for Australia's limited-overs tour of England, lives in Melbourne and has received permission to train during the city's lockdown.

But it is doubtful whether Melbourne will be in a position to host the Boxing Day Test and other games this summer.

"I don't think players will have any issues having to play anywhere else," Finch said.

"I don't think it is going to be a huge issue."

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