Fifth Ashes Test definitely won't be played in Perth, Cricket Australia confirm

The WA government's Covid-19 quarantine protocols dictate that players, families, match and broadcast staff would have to have completed 14 days in isolation following their arrival in Perth after the fourth Test in Sydney.

Perth has been formally stripped of the the fifth Ashes Test over Western Australia's border restrictions.

The Optus Stadium - the city's 60,000-seater venue - had been due to host the game between January 14 and 18 but Cricket Australia confirmed on Monday that it would have to e moved.

The WA government's Covid-19 quarantine protocols dictate that players, families, match and broadcast staff would have to have completed 14 days in isolation following their arrival in Perth after the fourth Test in Sydney.

"It's up to them whether they want to adhere to those rules or not," WA premier Mark McGowan said last week.

The schedule for the series - with the fourth Test only set to finish on January 9 should it last the full five days - left such a scenario unworkable for organisers.

^{The MCG is one of the favourites to host the rearranged fifth Ashes Test (Michael Dodge/Getty Images)}

In a statement on Monday, CA said: "While absolutely every effort was made to ensure the final Test match of the series could be staged in Perth, border controls, quarantine requirements and the complexities of staging a five-Test series in a tight schedule have meant it is unfortunately not possible to align the respective priorities of the WA Government, CA and WA Cricket.

"These complexities also mean that any suggestion of changing the order of the venues would not be feasible.

"Discussions about a replacement venue for the fifth Test match are under way."

Those discussions seem likely to see the match relocated to Melbourne, and the MCG, for the second time in the series.

The venue, which will also host the third game of the campaign from Boxing Day, would be an obvious fit given its massive capacity.

It is possible that the match could become a day-night affair - the second in the series after the second Test at the Adelaide Oval - in a boost to English hopes.

By switching the start times, CA would bring the game more in line with Perth's timezone and offer English viewers back home the chance to watch some cricket without the need for staying up through the night. 

^{England captain Joe Root and his Aussie counterpart Pat Cummins ahead of the series, which starts on Wednesday (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images for Cricket Australia)}

Reports in Australia, however, indicate that Hobart - the state capital of Tasmania - remains a real contender to pick up the game. 

A late suggestion from WA sport minister Tony Buti to shift the second Test from Adelaide to Perth fell on deaf ears.

"If cricket isn't able to meet our border rules for (the) fifth Test in Perth, then they should move the second Test to Perth instead," Buti told The West Australian.

"It's a no-brainer. As long as Queensland stays COVID-free, then the teams can fly in (from Brisbane) ahead of the pink-ball day-night Test.

"The simple solution would be to bring that Test here while South Australia manages its COVID outbreak.

"Adelaide can then host the fifth Test originally scheduled for Perth."

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