'Very strange': Shane Warne questions crucial Ashes decision
Shane Warne has questioned Cricket Australia after reports suggested Hobart was going to be the host of the fifth Ashes Test.
Cricket Australia (CA) could lock Hobart for the fifth men's Ashes Test as early as Friday.
The series finale was slated to begin in Perth on January 14.
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However, CA has been forced to shift the final Test elsewhere because of Western Australia's border restrictions.
Every state and the ACT have expressed an interest in hosting the match, with the MCG and SCG looming as Bellerive's stiffest competition.
CA chief executive Nick Hockley, speaking on Thursday, played a straight bat when asked about the prospect of Hobart hosting its first Test since 2016.
But Hockley confirmed a decision about the Test, now set to be a pink-ball clash, would be made "in the not too distant future".
Hobart originally had the backing of Prime Minister after Scott Morrison weighed-in on the debate.
However, with reports Hobart are set to be awarded the huge honour, Warne wasn't convinced the decision was the right one.
Speaking during commentary on Day 3, Warne said the limited capacity of Blundtsone Arena for such a huge event was an issue.
“I’m very happy for the people of Hobart – congratulations if that’s the case – but I wouldn’t have done it that way,” Warne said on Fox Sports commentary.
“If it’s 2-all, or 2-1, 1-0, whatever it may be, you want to be fair to the fans all over Australia. And I don’t think you can fit them all in at Hobart.
“I just would have liked us to cater for everyone, 15,000 with all of Australia and international guests, I just don’t think you’ll get people in there. But well done to Hobart. They always put on a great series down there, a great event but I wouldn’t have done it with only 15,000 people.
“One of the reasons Hobart lost its Test match was that no one was turning up. Let’s hope the people turn out, let’s hope it’s still alive the series and Hobart can squeeze in 15,000 people.”
Shane Warne points to Hobart's low crowd attendance
Hobart has hosted 13 Tests in its history.
The largest attendance across five days was against the West Indies in 2005/06 with total attendance reaching 29,186.
The biggest single day attendance was 12,154.
Australian cricket great Mark Waugh joked that the residents of Hobart better make the most of it and 'turn up' if the decision goes their way.
However, Warne wasn't convinced.
“It just makes the decision to play the fifth Test in Hobart very strange,” Warne added.
After WA lost the fifth Test, WA police minister Paul Papalia sledged CA for being "completely inflexible" and a "pretty poor organisation" after talks regarding the fifth Test hit a brick wall.
Hockley argued that criticism was "entirely unfair".
"We've worked really constructively with governments right around the country, all throughout the last 18 months," he said.
"Including the Western Australia government.
"So that's certainly not reflective of the conversations and the spirit of the conversations that I've been having."
with AAP
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