Cricket Australia had offer to host postponed series rejected by South Africa

Cricket South Africa are frustrated by Australia's late postponement but CA's interim CEO, Nick Hockley says player safety is his number one priority amid rising Covid-19 cases in the host country

Cricket Australia interim CEO, Nick Hockley, has revealed Australia offered to host their now-postponed Test series against South Africa but were rejected.

The Aussies announced on Tuesday (February 2) they were pulling out of the three-match series citing concerns over the rising Covid-19 cases in South Africa, a decision which has proven unpopular with their hosts.

However, while Hockley says he understands Cricket South Africa’s frustrations, the health and safety of those involved was his number one priority.

Speaking to ABC, Hockley said: "We did offer to host the series here, but Cricket South Africa made that very clear that they have lots of other commitments and with quarantine periods and the like, it just wasn’t feasible.

"I don’t think Cricket South Africa could have done any more in terms of biosecurity arrangements.

"Firstly, South Africa, very sadly hit the peak of their second coronavirus wave. And secondly, they have got the more virulent strain which there is still lots of unknowns around.

Today we informed Cricket South Africa that we believe we have no choice but to postpone the forthcoming Qantas Tour of South Africa due to the coronavirus pandemic. Full statement 👇 pic.twitter.com/mYjqNpkYjp

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) February 2, 2021

"As we worked through the residual risk and also some questions and challenges [around] if we were to get a case, how and when we could get our players back home, putting health and safety absolutely number one, we were really left with no option."

Responding to the postponement, Cricket South Africa’s director of cricket, Graeme Smith, said the timing of Cricket Australia’s decision was "frustrating."

"CSA has been working tirelessly in recent weeks to ensure that we meet every single expectation of CA. So to be informed about the CA decision at the eleventh hour is frustrating," he said.

Meanwhile, CSA’s acting CEO, Pholetsi Moseki added: "In this challenging period for cricket and its member countries, we believe the stance taken by CA is regrettable and will have a serious impact on the sustainability of the less wealthy cricket-playing nations."

However, Hockley denied that finances had any part in the decision, while also confirming that cancellation wouldn’t alter Australia’s T20 squad for their upcoming tour of New Zealand.

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