Shane Warne has returned home for the Ashes, which commence in December. Photo / Alex Coppel
Shane Warne has returned home for the Ashes, which commence in December. Photo / Alex Coppel
Cricket legend Shane Warne has labelled Victoria's tough quarantine restrictions "inhumane", adding fuel to a fire that has been raging in the cricket world ahead of the summer.
Warne is preparing to return home from London ahead of the Ashes and has taken to Twitter to call Victoria's tough quarantinerestrictions into question.
Currently, all citizens returning to the state must quarantine in a hotel room for 14 days on arrival at their own expense.
While New South Wales is piloting a home quarantine programme this month, Victoria does not currently have plans to roll out a similar initiative.
Warne, who is double-vaxxed against coronavirus, questioned whether those who have had two jabs should be required to complete what he called "inhumane" hotel quarantine.
"Can I do home quarantine in Victoria now as I'm double vaccinated or is it still the inhumane 14-day hotel quarantine in a tiny little room as all residents returning home have had to do?" the legendary leg-spinner tweeted.
According to the state's road map for reopening, amendments to international quarantine arrangements will only be considered once 80 per cent of Victorians over 16 are vaccinated.
The Victorian Government is set to consider revising its quarantine policy for interstate arrivals once 70 per cent of Victorians over 16 are double-vaxxed.
As it stands, only 58 per cent of Victorians over 16 have had two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Currently, Victorians may apply for permission to quarantine at home on re-entry to the state, but the Government does not consider double vaccination as grounds for granting an exemption.
Victoria is currently recording more instances of community Covid-19 transmission than any other state or territory. Photo / NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie
This summer's Ashes series was thrown into doubt after England players expressed concerns with spending the holiday season in bubbles away from families and with quarantining for two weeks on arrival in Australia.
England have played more tests than any other side this year and, since January, have already travelled to India and Sri Lanka to ply their trade.
After weeks of negotiations between players, Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), it was confirmed earlier this week that the Ashes would go ahead.
Ahead of official confirmation that the series would proceed, Warne said he empathised with the English players.
"It's hard to make a decision (about coming to Australia) because the states keep changing their rules," Warne said on Tuesday.
"The first test is in Brisbane, and then they have to travel to Adelaide or Perth after that, it's very hard with the regulations, to say they'll have to do another 14 days quarantine, and then Perth won't let you in.
"It's very hard for the England players to make a decision while it's changing all the time in each state."
The impact of Australia's border restrictions has also been felt at other levels of the game. Brisbane Heat opener Tom Banton was granted permission to stay in England despite being contracted for BBL|11 after citing concerns over bubble fatigue and hotel quarantine.
Warne isn't the first athlete to take aim at the Victorian Government's Covid-19 restrictions.
Golf professionals were left fuming when the sport continued to be banned as Premier Daniel Andrews reintroduced picnics for Victorians last month.
"Just to clarify from tomorrow I can visit my local golf course or tennis club to have a picnic with 4 others or do personal training with a trainer and one other but I can't play golf or tennis with one other?" tweeted professional golfer Matt Griffin at the time.
Golf has been permitted throughout New South Wales' lockdown but "recreational activities that require the use of a facility" remained off the table for Victorians until the state hit its 80 per cent single dose target late last month.
Even then, the Andrews Government was ridiculed for choosing to ban the use of toilets at golf clubs. The ban was subsequently overturned.
Where to get a vaccination in Auckland - without a booking
This map shows large vaccinations centres from the Unite again Covid-19 information page. For more detailed information about your neighbourhood visit Healthpoint.
