Empty seats ring the field during a One Day International cricket match between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Friday, March 13, 2020. Cricket Australia announced that three one-day international matches between Australia and New Zealand would be played in empty stadiums because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. The first of the three matches began at the 48,000-seat Sydney Cricket Ground, where television announcers spoke of the "eerie" silence in the stadium devoid of fans. (Dean Lewins/AAP Image via AP)
Empty seats ring the field during a One Day International cricket match between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Friday, March 13, 2020. Cricket Australia announced that three one-day international matches between Australia and New Zealand would be played in empty stadiums because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. The first of the three matches began at the 48,000-seat Sydney Cricket Ground, where television announcers spoke of the "eerie" silence in the stadium devoid of fans. (Dean Lewins/AAP Image via AP)Associated Press
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G'bye Mate: Cricket Australia cancels games, ends season

National organizers want even children to suspend matches.

All professional cricket has been canceled in Australia in response to the coronavirus pandemic, and national organizers are "strongly recommending" that the remainder of the season be called off at all levels — right down to children's community games.

Cricket Australia declared New South Wales state the winner of the Sheffield Shield, the national firsts-class competition. The last round of the regular season in the Sheffield Shield had already been scrapped.New South Wales won six games, lost two and drew one in the Shield, finishing 12 points clear of Victoria state. International cricket series between Australia and New Zealand had already been canceled.

Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts says the measures are aimed at slowing the spread of the virus.

"By effectively canceling the remainder of our season, Cricket Australia is playing its part in protecting fans, players, staff, volunteers and match officials during this unprecedented global health issue," Roberts said.

The cancellation comes nine days after Australia hosted and won the women's Twenty20 Cricket World Cup final against India, attended by more than 86,000 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Cricket
Australia
Cancellations

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