Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Thunder Nation ready to expands its borders with match in Albury in addition to Sydney and Canberra
The Trevor Bayliss-coached Sydney Thunder will open the KFC BBL|12 season on December 13 with their match against the Melbourne Stars at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.
It will start a competition in which the highly anticipated BBL’s draft – allied with a season that’s been shortened by 10 days without losing any games – is expected to draw some of the world’s most exciting playing talent to the League.
Thunder’s draw, which was announced by Cricket Australia today, includes four home matches at Sydney Showground Stadium, while western Sydney fans can also travel across town to cheer on the men in green for the SCG leg of the Sydney Smash – the Club’s fiercely contested derby against the Sixers.
Thunder will then help ignite the New Year’s Eve fireworks at Albury’s Lavington Sports Ground by hosting the Hobart Hurricanes in the picturesque Riverina on December 31.
With the last two BBL seasons impacted by COVID, this summer’s schedule allows Thunder fans throughout the state with numerous opportunities to get to a match and cheer on their team.
After playing in the season opener, Thunder then plays its four Sydney Showground Stadium matches, starting with Adelaide Strikers on December 16; Brisbane Heat on December 27; the Sixers on January 8, and Perth Scorchers on January 13.
Thunder returns for its second match in Canberra on January 19, where it will take on the Melbourne Renegades.
Thunder batter, Jason Sangha, who on Tuesday extended his deal with the Club, said he expected crowds would flock to the fun and excitement of the green team’s home matches after the last couple of “crazy years” that were brought on by the COVID pandemic.
“There was a couple of pretty crazy years of COVID, and we haven’t had the chance to play at [Sydney] Showground Stadium like we would have,” he said.
“As far as [us] getting games back at Showground, it lets the fans of Western Sydney to come out to watch us.
“Manuka has been a fantastic place for us to play cricket – it’s always been a beautiful wicket, a nice and fast outfield – and the atmosphere there has been fantastic.
“Albury is going to be fantastic as well. It’s a place where we haven’t played a lot of cricket over the years, but what we’re hoping is the fans and cricket lovers from around Albury come and watch Sydney Thunder and that we inspire the next generation of cricketers.”
Sangha, however, didn’t hesitate to nominate the Sydney Smash – the Club’s two matches against arch rivals, the Sixers – as the fixtures he’s already marked on his calendar at home.
“Every Sydney Thunder fan circles the Sydney Smash, it’s a fantastic game,” he said.
“The Thunder and Sixers have always had some great rivalries; great games. I can still remember a couple of years ago at the SCG [when the game] went to a Super Over.”
Sangha, who scored 445 runs last summer, including an unbeaten New Year’s Eve 91 against the Strikers at Adelaide Oval, made it clear Thunder Nation’s supporters would play an important role throughout the summer. Sangha said was looking forward to interacting again with the Club’s fans.
“It’s been a couple of pretty hard years with COVID,” he said. “Obviously, crowds [were] reduced; we’d been travelling all around the ‘world’… it’s just really nice to know that we can play some games back in Sydney.
“We just want to play some really good cricket so the fans come back down and support us. It’s going to be a really fantastic year, I can’t wait to see the fans – and maybe start signing autographs again this year [after COVID restrictions prevented that in BBL|10 and 11]!”
Thunder completes its regular season at the MCG with a match against the Melbourne Stars on January 25.
Seven will televise 45 KFC BBL matches – including all Finals – of this summer’s 61 games. Each game will once again be available on Foxtel and Kayo, while additional coverage will be provided by SEN.
The KFC BBL|12 Finals series will take place following the conclusion of the regular season, with dates and details of each match to be confirmed.
Tickets for this summer’s Thunder WBBL and BBL matches go on-sale to the public at 2pm, August 18 (AEST).
Sydney Thunder BBL|12 Fixtures (All AEDT Start Times)
Tue 13 Dec | Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars | Manuka Oval | 7:15pm
Fri 16 Dec | Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers | Sydney Showground Stadium | 8:15pm
Sun 18 Dec | Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Thunder | Marvel Stadium | 7:15pm
Tue 20 Dec | Strikers v Thunder | Adelaide Oval | 7:15pm
Tue 27 Dec | Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat | Sydney Showground Stadium | 7:15pm
Thu 29 Dec | Brisbane Heat v Sydney Thunder | Metricon Stadium | 6:05pm
Sat 31 Dec | Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes | Lavington Sports Ground | 3:30pm
Wed 4 Jan | Perth Scorchers v Sydney Thunder | Optus Stadium | 9:15pm
Sun 8 Jan | Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers | Sydney Showground Stadium | 7:15pm
Fri 13 Jan | Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers | Sydney Showground Stadium | 6:30pm
Sun 15 Jan | Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Thunder | Blundstone Arena | 1:40pm
Thu 19 Jan | Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades | Manuka Oval | 7:15pm
Sat 21 Jan | Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder | SCG | 7:05pm
Wed 25 Jan | Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder | MCG | 7:15pm
Sydney Thunder BBL|12 Squad
Head Coach: Trevor Bayliss
Contracted for BBL|12: Ollie Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Baxter Holt, Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha
