Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
The Gold Coast will host a KFC Big Bash League Final for the first time if the Brisbane Heat finish in the top three of the competition next month.
With the Gabba being utilized for the day/night Test against the West Indies from 25-29 January, Carrara Stadium has been approved by Cricket Australia as the Heat’s Finals venue in the event they qualify to host.
The Heat has played eight BBL matches at Carrara since its first match in 2018, with its highest crowd of 20,135 recorded against the Scorchers in 2020.
The club last played at the venue last season.
Brisbane, runners-up last summer, has won four matches with one no-result so far this season, with last night’s win over the Sydney Thunder at the Gabba attracting the biggest Heat crowd since 2020 with 29,155 fans attending.
The Heat last hosted a Final in 2020-21 when Brisbane beat Adelaide at the Gabba to win the ‘Eliminator’ under that season’s Finals format.
Queensland Cricket and Brisbane Heat CEO Terry Svenson said the choice of the Gold Coast provided the club with a familiar venue boasting a proven track record in delivering BBL matches.
“Everyone is very pleased to see the team doing well and while there is still a lot of cricket to be played, it is a strong outcome for us to have the Gold Coast locked in should we be in a position to host a Final,’’ he said.
“It’s disappointing for us that we can’t host a Final at the Gabba, but the complexities of the busy international and domestic schedule this year mean that isn’t possible.
“However as we’ve seen previously, wherever we play, we know Queenslanders will come out to support the Brisbane Heat.”
“Hopefully there will be a huge week or two of cricket in Queensland at that time, with the BBL Finals on the Gold Coast and the Day/Night Test at the Gabba,” Svenson said.
The top four teams at the end of the regular BBL season will secure a finals berth and, as has been the case in previous seasons, the top two teams will be rewarded with a double-chance. The KFC BBL|13 champions will be crowned at the Final on January 24.
Friday, January 19: ‘The Qualifier – First-placed team v second-placed team
Saturday, January 20: ‘The Knockout’ – Third-placed team v fourth-placed team
Monday, January 22: ‘The Challenger’ – Loser of The Qualifier v winner of The Knockout
Wednesday, January 24: The Final – winner of The Qualifier v winner of The Knockout
