Even with fewer cricket fans attending the Australia-India test match in Sydney, ticket holders are advised to travel early to avoid missing the start of play.
The Test match starts at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday 7 January and is scheduled to finish on Monday 11 January 2021.
Gates open at 8.30am on the first 3 days and at 9.30am on days 4 and 5. While play starts at 10.30am each day, ticket holders are advised to arrive early to allow plenty of time to get to their seats.
Additional public transport services will be operating for the duration of the match to help meet COVID-19 physical distancing requirements.
To help our contact tracers, be ready to check in with a QR code and if you are catching public transport, make sure your Opal Card is registered.
Where possible, people should walk or cycle to the match. Walking from Central Station to Moore Park via Devonshire St and the Albert ‘Tibby’ Cotter Walkway takes about 30 minutes.
Public transport services
Trains will be running regularly to Central where ticket holders for the match can change to additional frequent light rail and shuttle bus services on Chalmers Street.
L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford light rail services run regularly to Moore Park with additional frequent shuttle services running between Central and Moore Park before play starts and after the match ends each day.
Express shuttle buses will also be running frequently between Central and Moore Park from 7.30am to 11am and returning from 3pm to 7pm each day.
Trackwork on the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the Test means that most North Shore lines will be running to a weekend timetable. Shuttle buses from Walker Street, North Sydney to the SCG will run regularly from Thursday to Sunday, travelling to the SCG from 7.30am to 10.30am and making return journeys between 3pm and 7pm .
Additional staff will be in place around transport hubs to manage crowds and help passengers stay COVID safe.
Carparking
Traffic is expected to be heavy around the Moore Park area for the duration of the test match.
People who are planning to drive to the SCG can use the car parks on the grass at Driver Avenue and at the Entertainment Quarter which are within walking distance of the SCG.
Follow the health guidelines
Safety precautions for travel on public transport include
mandatory wearing of a face mask while waiting for public transport and during travel
maintaining physical distancing when waiting for or boarding public transport
checking for service capacity using the Trip Planner at transportnsw.info, the Opal Travel app or other transport app.
Anyone who is feeling unwell or has even the mildest of symptoms of COVID-19, such as a runny nose or sore throat or fever, should not attend the cricket.
People are also reminded to regularly clean their hands and carry hand sanitiser.
A COVID Safe event
NSW Health is working with the Sydney Cricket Ground to ensure the Test is conducted in a COVID Safe way and in accordance with public health orders.
The precautions include a requirement for everyone to wear a fitted face covering (face mask) while attending the game.
In addition, you cannot attend the cricket if you are a resident or visitor from an affected area:
Sporting organisations in NSW can access a share of $650,000 to help increase participation, promote leadership and encourage inclusivity in women’s sport through the ‘Her Sport Her Way’ Grant Program.
Regional councils and eligible not-for-profit organisations are encouraged to apply for funding to deliver events and activities during the upcoming autumn school holidays.
Punters who plan on going to sporting and cultural events across NSW in 2022 can continue their revelry afterward, with licenced venues allowed to stay open for longer during these occasions.
