WA Premier Mark McGowan has cast renewed doubt on whether Perth will host a match of the upcoming Ashes series, in light of COVID-19 restrictions.
WA Cricket Association chief executive Christina Matthews said on the weekend there was only a 50-50 chance of the fifth and final Ashes Test match being played in Perth.
Officials had been confident the match would go ahead in Perth, but it would need exemptions to the WA government's border rules for that to happen.
"The thing about the Ashes and Cricket Australia is we have put in place very strict rules," Mr McGowan said.
"We've said to them they need to have 14 days of quarantine, and that has to apply to all of the broadcast staff, all the cricket staff.
"They can't just bring wives and girlfriends with them, [there are] the same rules as we put in place for the AFL.
"It is up to them whether they want to adhere to those rules or not."
Perth Stadium is scheduled set to host the finale of the Test series, starting on January 14.
Earlier this month there had been suggestions some of WA's COVID-19 restrictions may be relaxed in time for the match to be able to go ahead.
But the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has changed that assumption.
The Premier's comments this morning came in response to a question about a tweet from former cricketer and broadcaster Shane Warne in which he said the fifth test would not be played in Perth.
Mr McGowan was asked if Warne's tweet was accurate.
"I don't know the answer to that question, I have seen the tweet," he said.
"I'm not sure of the accuracy of what Shane Warne has to say, I've never met Shane Warne.
"But maybe he has the inside word, I don't know."
Mr McGowan has previously denied suggestions by federal Health Minister Greg Hunt that any decision on COVID-19 restrictions in WA would be influenced by a cricket match.
