Tasmania poised to host a block of Big Bash matches featuring all eight teams later in year
AFL matches and the Supercars event were unable to proceed in 2020, but Tasmania could host all eight BBL clubs in a hub if the state’s borders are opened in December.
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TASMANIA is poised to home all eight Big Bash teams in a ‘BBL bubble’ for a portion of the 10th edition of the tournament.
Cricket Australia and the State Government are in discussions about the possibility of the state playing host to a block of fixtures in December — should Premier Peter Gutwein open the borders.
A provisional BBL schedule was released in July but the continued impact of COVID-19 now makes it almost certain the Big Bash will follow international fixtures, and other sporting codes, in setting up hubs across the country to fulfil biosecurity requirements.
The Australian women’s team has already confirmed a series against New Zealand will take place solely in Brisbane later this month, while the start of the Sheffield Shield season is likely to unfold in Adelaide with the six states playing four matches each across three venues.
An announcement on the WBBL, which appears headed to a hub interstate, is expected in the coming days, with the international fixture featuring a one off Test against Afghanistan and the blockbuster four Test series against India to then be locked in.
The format of the Big Bash will likely follow.
Speaking on Hobart’s Hit100.9 with Jimmy and Nath this morning, Mr Gutwein confirmed conversations were taking place.
“It is certainly something we have been approached on, and we are in discussions at the moment,” Mr Gutwein said.
“This would be for a hub very late this year in December for BBL.
“We did have some discussions in terms of women’s BBL but obviously our border situation and likewise with the discussions with the AFL, our border was very prohibitive of that.
“In terms of BBL, those discussions are ongoing and I would like to think we are certainly well and truly in the mix.”
Adelaide has been touted as the front runner to kickstart the Shield season given it has three first-class ready venues, but Tasmania would have no issues with BBL matches with Blundstone Arena in Hobart and Launceston’s UTAS Stadium.
West Park has hosted WBBL and WNCL matches in the past two seasons and could possibly come under consideration for men’s Twenty20 action.
Test captain Tim Paine said on Wednesday he was hopeful of seeing some form of cricket in his home state this summer.
“I think we will see some, I don’t think we will see a heap, but I think that Afghanistan Test is still on the cards, I would like to see that at Blundstone Arena, I’m still pushing for that.
“Apart from that I’ve heard some Big Bash, maybe back end of the Big Bash and then after Christmas we will get to that stage and reassess then.
“It would be silly to lock too much in post Big Bash when we don’t know the situation.”
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