Australia could abandon tradition and stage an Ashes Test at the 80,000-seat Olympic stadium instead of the Sydney Cricket Ground. New South Wales state cricket administrators are in negotiations with the Sydney Cricket Ground, venue of 97 Test matches dating back to 1882, over its contract beyond 2010, Australian media reported Thursday. The fifth Ashes Test against England would usually start in the first week of January, 2011. Cricket NSW chief David Gilbert said he was considering its options and hadn’t ruled out moving the Test, although it would appear unlikely.

The same speculation arose when the state cricket board and the SCG negotiated the current contract five years ago. Australia has an excellent record at the SCG, where they have only lost three Tests since 1980.

Shane Watson has no doubts where he thinks the Sydney Test should be played. “I love the ground, the history behind the ground, the players who have been in the change rooms, there’s so much tradition and history involved in the SCG,” Watson said on Thursday.