Melbourne ‘at the front of the queue’ to host second Ashes Test

Melbourne is the slight favourite to host a second Ashes Test after holding it in Perth was yesterday deemed too difficult.

Sydney is also vying for the Test.

WA Premier Mark McGowan dashed Perth’s hopes of hosting the final Ashes Test when he doubled down on his hardline stance on quarantine.

Host of 6PR Breakfast in Perth, Gareth Parker, says his home state “probably deserves to lose it”.

“There’s sort of three groups of people in WA at the moment,” he told Ross and Russel.

“There’s the cricket fans … tearing their hair out at the prospect of losing another test match for a second year in a row, there’s a larger group of people, probably the majority, who still believe it’s better safe than sorry and no COVID is worth taking any risks for.

“And then there’s probably the smallest group … that I find myself in … who think that because of intransigence and barriers that we’re putting in place, we probably deserve to lose it.”

Mr Parker said he’s puzzled by the WA Sport Minister’s approach.

“Today the Sport Minister says it’s preferable not to hold a Test rather than have COVID run riot, but two weeks later we’re going to open our borders … I’m not quite sure what difference that two weeks makes!,” he said.

The 6PR Breakfast host says Melbourne’s chances of a second Ashes Test look strong.

“Certainly the MCG appears to be at the front of the queue at the moment.”

Press PLAY below to hear how WA residents feel about likely losing the final Ashes Test