Hurricanes and Stars in Christmas Eve Big Bash clash

SANTA will be able to take in a Big Bash League match on his delivery duties this year with the Hobart Hurricanes securing a Christmas Eve fixture.

The Hurricanes have secured a Christmas Eve match at Blundstone Arena against the Melbourne Stars. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

SANTA will be able to take in a Big Bash League match on his delivery duties this year with the Hobart Hurricanes securing a Christmas Eve fixture­.

New Hurricanes recruit James Faulkner will face his old team for the first time in the sought-after fixture, with the Melbourne Stars to be in town for the clash.

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As revealed by the Mercury last month, Cricket Tasmania was pushing hard for the night before Christmas to create what it hopes will be a marquee fixture.

The full 2018-19 fixture will be announced on Wednesday, with the Hurricanes’ centrepiece to be the December 24 spec­tacular. Landing the Stars is the cream on the cake for CT.

On Boxing Day 2016, a Blundstone Arena record 18,076 fans saw the Hurricanes go down to a Melbourne Stars team containing Ben Hilfenhaus, Faulkner, Glenn Maxwell and Luke Wright.

Cricket Australia and the Big Bash League will have to go to some lengths to ensure players are home for the following day. The Australian Cricketers Association is opposed to players being away from home on December 25, meaning the Christmas Eve fixture will throw up logistic headaches for visiting teams.

There is talk of a charter plane being used to get the Stars staff and players, BBL officials and Channel 7/Fox Cricket staff back to Melbourne after the game in time for Christmas.

With the BBL expanding to a full home-and-away season — 14 games per side — Cricket Australia is having to be a bit more imaginative with its roster, but has ruled out a Christmas Day game this year. With seven Hurricanes home games, Cricket Tasmania has stated its preference is for five games at Blundstone Arena and two at Launceston’s UTas Stadium.