Cricket will return to Adelaide Oval on Australia Day in 2020 with the Strikers to play the Hurricanes
With the full fixture for the ninth season of the Big Bash League dropping on Thursday, The Advertiser can exclusively reveal one very important match to be played on one very important date.
The beloved institution of cricket at Adelaide Oval on Australia Day will make a welcome return in 2020 when the Adelaide Strikers play the Hobart Hurricanes in the final round of the Big Bash League.
The full fixture for the 2019/20 BBL will be announced by Cricket Australia on Thursday morning and The Advertiser can exclusively reveal that the Strikers will host the Hurricanes on Sunday, January 26, from 6.40pm.
This game at Adelaide Oval forms part of a “bumper” January long weekend of big bash cricket when seven games will be played across Australia in three days to round out the season before finals commence.
SACA CEO Keith Bradshaw welcomed the Australia Day game, saying it was a special date in the hearts and minds of SA’s cricket lovers.
“I’m really pleased to see we have an Australia Day fixture again, because Australia Day has been a very special part of the DNA of cricket fans in South Australia … I’m excited that it has returned,” he said.
“Cricket Australia are well aware of our desire to host cricket on Australia Day.
“That’s always something that’s been close to the hearts of South Australians and something we’ve tried to promote and attract.”
Today, Cricket Australia will also unveil a significant change to the ninth season of the Big Bash: that it will be shortened by 13 days following fan feedback that the 2018/19 season was too long.
Bradshaw said it was pleasing that the overwhelming response from fans had been heard by administrators.
“Without doubt, it’s good that some lessons have been learnt and there was an impact, in my opinion of Big Bash running when schools have gone back, so that window has been reduced, but not completely eliminated,” he said.
“We need to finish the season with people wanting more, that’s what we need to create and I think we had created that, but last (season) we lost that edge.”
The Strikers/Hurricanes clash will be historic in that it will be the first BBL game to be played at Adelaide Oval on Australia Day.
The last time cricket was played at Adelaide Oval on January 26 was in 2018 when Australia played England. In that game, the Adelaide Strikers captain Travis Head starred with the bat to make 96, in Australia’s three-wicket win.
Next year, Australia Day will be bumper day for sport in SA, with the Tour Down Under finishing on that date too.
Check theadvertiser.com.au from 9.30am on Thursday, July 25, to see the Strikers’ full BBL fixture.