Cricket Australia bolsters security after thieves mar last Moe BBL game, Pakistani speedster gets another crack
Cricket is returning to Moe on Sunday afternoon but Cricket Australia has laid out extra precautions after a strange incident last season. Meanwhile, Steyn’s replacement will get another crack.
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Cricket Australia has beefed up security at Moe’s Ted Summerton Reserve after TV broadcasters had equipment stolen on the eve of last summer’s Big Bash fixture.
Reels of copper wire and scaffolding went missing the night before Melbourne Stars smashed Adelaide Strikers on January 23.
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Stars return to Moe today to host D’Arcy Short’s Hobart Hurricanes at 2.45pm in the only BBL game at the country town this season.
Channel 7 and Fox Cricket set up the day before a match and producers were surprised in January to notice some gear had been nicked.
While Fox took Seven‘s feed from Moe last year, and the stolen goods were not a major inconvenience, Moe was not alone.
Some mainstream venues were also targeted by mischievous locals last summer.
The country Victorian town is certainly not in the bad books with the TV rivals.
Setting up at regional venues does bring logistic challenges for Fox and Seven.
Fox Cricket is likely to again host today’s match from its studio.
PAKISTANI SPEEDSTER GETS ANOTHER CHANCE
The Pakistani plucked out of Hobart grade cricket will unleash his fire against Hurricanes in Moe today after Dale Steyn was again ruled out with a side strain.
Haris Rauf will get a second Big Bash game after taking 2-20 against Brisbane Heat in a shock debut on Friday after Steyn arrived in Melbourne unfit.
Rauf, 26, once bowled to Virat Kohli in the nets although Stars’ batsmen were keen to avoid the man who has been clocked at 150km at training.
“Every batsman that walked over towards his net said, ‘No thank you. I’ll take the spin net’. He ended up bowling to no one,” Ben Dunk said.
Steyn’s BBL cameo has been cut to four games. He and Nathan Coulter-Nile (ankle) are expected to finally debut for the green team against Adelaide Strikers on Friday night.
Steyn ended D’Arcy Short’s ODI career when he dismissed the Hobart opener for a duck last summer.
Short has not played an ODI since then although Steyn should get another crack when Stars travel to Launceston for a rematch on December 30.
Stars and Hurricanes are both targeting a 2-0 start to the season in Moe today.