A 'cranky' WA Cricket boss is demanding millions in compensation after Perth was stripped of the fifth Ashes Test due to Mark McGowan's draconian Covid rules.
Cricket Australia on Monday confirmed the fifth and final Test would be moved from Perth Stadium due to 'pandemic-related restrictions'.
But WA Cricket, which is expected to lose between $3 million and $5 million due to the move, is demanding half the profit from wherever it is played - which is still to be decided.
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan's draconian Covid restrictions has caused his state to lose hosting the fifth Ashes Test
Pat Cummins (pictured left), Australia's captain holds the series trophy standing with Joe Root (right), England's captain during the Australia v England Ashes Series Launch at The Gabba on December 5, 2021 in Brisbane
'I don't know how they're going to allocate the Test now but if there's a financial advantage in allocating that test to a particular venue, we'd expect to receive some of that... to compensate for what we've lost,' WA Cricket chief executive Christina Matthews said.
'I'd hope we'd recover 50 per cent. We'll now have to look at our costs and expense base to see where we can save some money.'
Ms Matthews said WA Cricket may have to cut some programs due to losing the game.
With South Africa touring Australia next summer, Ms Matthews hopes Perth will be given its choice of Test due to losing the Ashes rights this summer.
She said the WA Government and Cricket Australia were equally responsible for the decision.
'I'm cranky that it's the second year in a row we're losing a Test but there's really no one to blame which makes it really hard,' she said.
'What's disappointing for me personally is how hard we fought for cricket to be at that stadium, knowing what that plan was going to be and how big the Ashes were going to be.
'We've missed an opportunity to be part of a spectacular event.'
WA Cricket chief executive Christina Matthews (pictured) says she is 'cranky' over Perth losing the right to host the fifth Ashes Test
Mr McGowan said all players, staff and incoming media crews had to quarantine for 14 days, meaning the game couldn't be played until January 19.
CA said though 'every effort' was made to ensure the final match could be played in Perth, border controls and quarantine requirements made it impossible.
The respective priorities of WA cricket, CA, and the WA Government could not be coordinated to stage the series in Perth, CA said.
'These complexities also mean that any suggestion of changing the order of the venues would not be feasible,' it said.
Perth has officially lost the right to host the fifth Ashes test due to Mark McGowan's refusal to budge on his state's tough Covid restrictions
Ms Matthews described the decision to relocate the match as 'very difficult to accept'.
Ms Matthews said she was 'extremely disappointed' for WA cricket fans who were looking forward to christening their new stadium.
'We are extremely disappointed for our members, fans, commercial partners and the wider WA cricket community, as well as all our staff and players who have been looking forward to and planning for the first-ever Ashes to be played at Perth Stadium,' she said.
Ms Matthews promised
