Search

show me:

Five BBL games for cricket-starved Perth

3 minute read

Western Australia won't miss out on cricket altogether this summer with five Big Bash League matches to be held at Perth's Optus Stadium.

Western Australia will host five Big Bash League games, the state's only cricket during the summer, as coronavirus restrictions across the country ease.

After missing out on international matches due to logistical hurdles with border closures, Perth will host matches as part of the BBL roadshow in January.

The Perth Scorchers will feature in four of those matches from January 3, while the Sydney Thunder and the Hobart Hurricanes will play a game on neutral turf at Optus Stadium.

As part of previous restrictions in WA, players would have been required to spend 14 days in hard quarantine on arrival.

However, the relaxing of measures means that will no longer be required, given no players will be coming directly from Victoria or NSW.

Players will largely travel largely on chartered flights, with Big Bash boss Alistair Dobson claiming the fixture is the "boldest in Australian sport" since the start of COVID-19.

"A big part of our planning has been to make sure we have the modelling and budget right to ... get into every state," Dobson said.

"It is an added expense but it's part of delivering a Big Bash season this year."

The only sticking point could be if the Adelaide cluster remains an issue, given there are matches scheduled in South Australia at the end of December.

Cricket Australia are well aware they must be agile, given any repeat of Adelaide anywhere across the country could create more border challenges.

Crowds will remain dependent on each state's restrictions, with Queensland back allowing full houses while there is hope the MCG could hold up to 40,000.

Dobson is also hopeful there will be home finals, dependent on border restrictions allowing them.

Organisers previously announced all games for the BBL season, while venues were only listed until December 31.

In the updated schedule to start in 2021, games will be played across Queensland, Tasmania, Adelaide and Perth until January 12.

The regular season will end in Sydney and Melbourne.

Sydney will host eight matches and the sports-deprived Victoria to have 11.

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au