'CA should consider moving remaining Tests to MCG' - Michael Vaughan after Covid-19 strikes England camp

Former England batter and Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan feels that Cricket Australia must be proactive in handling the current situation as Covid-19 has struck England camp.

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Ahead of play on Day 2 in the ongoing Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, as many as four members - two England cricket team support staff and two of their family members – tested COVID-positive, leading to a delayed start.

Even as the game progressed, the event has led to reservations amongst many whether the series will conclude without any further mishappening. Notably, Covid cases have also been reported in the Ashes broadcaster, Channel Seven, staff with the commentary team.

"I think Cricket Australia have to act quickly and be proactive in terms of the situation. It’s unprecedented times," Vaughan said on Fox Cricket.

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"A total of 6,324 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in New South Wales (NSW) on Monday and Vaughan feels SCG should be abandoned as the fourth Test venue to minimise the risk of exposure to the virus.

"Could the next Test match be played here in Melbourne, under lights at the MCG, to make sure we all stay in Victoria where the protocols are different to Sydney? Do we really want to risk taking two teams over to Sydney, broadcast and production staff? You get to the SCG, there’s one case in the team on day one and the Test match is off," added Vaughan.

The New Year’s Test is scheduled at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), while the fifth and final Ashes game is scheduled in Bellerive Oval, Hobart.

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"Surely Cricket Australia have to be proactive and realise that it’s not going to be easy (even) staying here with what we’ve seen this morning (with the England team)," Vaughan said.

"The fact that it’s a family member (who tested positive), Christmas Day everyone's going to have been around that family member, so there is a chance the COVID positive could spread around the side. I think Cricket Australia have to act quite quickly it would be quite sensible and reasonable to think ‘okay, this is the situation now, it wasn’t the situation a week ago, we have to act.'

"It (relocating the last two Ashes Tests to MCG) could be a good possibility. What’s the best way to get those last two Test matches played in as safe an environment as possible? For me, the sensible way would be ‘alright, we’re all in Melbourne, we know the protocols are different here, stay here, play the next Test match and see how the land lies in 10 days’ time.'"