Black Caps end ODI series early to head home and cancel upcoming T20 Series

The coronavirus is causing havoc in the sporting world. Last night's Black Caps-Australia one-day cricket match was played in front of empty stands at the SCG and all NRL games will be crowd-free from round two.

This weekend's Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix has been cancelled and overnight, many of the world's most famous sporting events and fixtures were postponed. Here are the latest updates.

The Black Caps will not play the remainder of their Australian one-day international series and will instead return to New Zealand.

The side lost the opening match of the series in front of an empty stadium last night, and it was expected the rest of the series would be played in similar fashion.

However, the New Zealand Government tightened its border restrictions and included Australia on the list of countries from which those entering New Zealand would be subjected to a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period.

"A consequence of this is that we need to get our team back to New Zealand before the restriction is imposed, meaning it will not be able to participate in the two remaining Chappell-Hadlee fixtures," a statement from New Zealand Cricket said.

"Arrangements are at this moment being made to fly the bulk of the squad home this evening.

"This development also means the three-match T20I series scheduled for New Zealand cannot proceed as the mandatory self-isolation period would also apply to the Australian squad as soon as it crossed the border into New Zealand.

"NZC believes both these series can be replayed in their entirety at a later and more appropriate date."

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission