Photo Credit: Cricket Australia
Seven KFC Big Bash League games have been relocated from Sydney and Melbourne as a result of state border closures and related impacts.
Seven KFC Big Bash League games have been relocated from Sydney and Melbourne as a result of state border closures and related impacts.
Five of those matches were scheduled to be played in Sydney, with the other two originally set for Melbourne.
While the league’s preference was to play the matches as originally announced, the updated schedule provides the best chance to complete a full, safe and successful season at a time when COVID-19 hotspots and state border closures pose challenges to the movement of teams around the country. The overriding consideration is to the health and safety of players, staff and the public.
The fixtures relocated from Melbourne are:
- January 14: Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Renegades, Manuka Oval, 7:15pm AEDT (originally at Marvel Stadium)
- January 21: Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat, Adelaide Oval, 6:45pm ACDT (originally at Melbourne Cricket Ground)
The fixtures relocated from Sydney are:
- January 22: Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder, Adelaide Oval, 6:45pm ACDT (originally at Sydney Cricket Ground)
- January 24: Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers, Adelaide Oval, 3:35pm ACDT (originally at Sydney Showground Stadium)
- January 24: Sydney Sixers v Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Cricket Ground, 7:15pm AEDT (originally at Sydney Cricket Ground)
- January 25: Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Thunder, Adelaide Oval, 6:45pm ACDT (originally at Sydney Showground Stadium)
- January 26: Brisbane Heat v Perth Scorchers, venue TBC, 1:05pm AEDT (originally at Sydney Cricket Ground)
View the full KFC BBL|10 schedule at cricket.com.au/big-bash
Ticket information for all seven matches will be communicated as soon as possible. Existing ticket holders for both matches being relocated from Melbourne will receive direct communication regarding the refund process. Tickets for Sydney matches had not yet been available to the public.
Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s Head of Big Bash Leagues, said:
“The decision to make these adjustments to the KFC BBL|10 schedule was necessary to ensure the continuation of the season in light of the ongoing public health situation and related state border closures,” Dobson said.
“The movement of these games has been made possible thanks to a large group of stakeholders including Governments, our KFC BBL clubs and State and Territory Associations and our broadcast and commercial partners, whose hard work, understanding and flexibility we greatly appreciate.
“We’d also like to take the opportunity again to recognise the players, staff and match officials who have shown incredible resilience and flexibility to adapt to the ever-changing landscape and successfully implemented bio secure hubs in each market, which have allowed us to keep the BBL moving.”
Matches relocated from Melbourne
“We have elected to move this Thursday’s Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Renegades match from Marvel Stadium to Manuka Oval given the Victorian Government’s current restrictions on travel from Brisbane and to create certainty that this fixture can be delivered,” Dobson said.
“Unfortunately, given the operational difficulties in providing a safe and secure environment for fans to attend at such short notice, including the ACT Government’s requirement that all tickets go off sale 24 hours prior to the match, tickets to this match will not be available to the public.
“In addition, we will be shifting the Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat match to Adelaide Oval as a result of that venue being re-engaged at the back end of the tournament, a great reward for Strikers members and fans.”
“We look forward to our first KFC BBL|10 match in Victoria this Friday night between the Melbourne Stars and Adelaide Strikers at the MCG, before a big Stars v Renegades Derby on Sunday.”
Matches relocated from Sydney
“We understand our many passionate members and fans of both the Sixers and Thunder, will be disappointed by today’s news that KFC BBL|10 matches won’t be played in Sydney this year,” Dobson said.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to those fans for their ongoing support and look forward to being back better than ever in KFC BBL|11.
“While we would love to have brought the KFC BBL to Sydney, the movement of the matches has created additional opportunities for fans in other cities to enjoy some of the world’s best T20 cricketers in action this school holidays.”
