Perth has renewed hope of hosting a Big Bash League hub this summer, after the State Government made key concessions to Cricket Australia regarding players’ quarantine requirements.
CA is understood to be keen to bring Big Bash games to WA, after confirmation the State will not host any international cricket this summer for the first time since the 1970s.
Perth has two international standard venues in Optus Stadium and the WACA Ground available to host BBL matches.
WA Cricket Association chief executive Christina Matthews said Perth’s chances of being part of the BBL program had gone from zero to “70 per cent” this week.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“If you’d asked me on Friday I would have said no chance. But there was some good movement yesterday,” Matthews said.
“So there was a little bit of excitement around the office that we may get some games.
“Cricket Australia had scheduled, in the draft fixture, games here. But they were reliant on government approvals and relaxation of quarantine arrangements which we didn’t think was possible.
“But there was a little bit of light let in yesterday. By government and sort of a little bit more flexibility with Cricket Australia as well. I’d go 70 per cent at the moment.”
CA released the revised fixture for this summer’s India tour on Wednesday morning, with the SCG and Canberra’s Manuka Oval to host six one-day international and Twenty20 fixtures between them.
The four Test matches will be played in Adelaide (December 17-21), Melbourne (December 26-30), Sydney (January 7-11) and Brisbane (January 15-19).
Matthews confirmed CA had wanted to play both the ODI and Twenty20 series in Perth, had players been allowed to train while quarantined.
“For us it’s been a rollercoaster. At one point we were on track to have the Indian team land here and effectively have all the limited over matches in Perth. And effectively on standby if one of the Test venues fell over,” she told 6PR.
“That wasn’t possible because of our quarantine arrangements. But it is the world we live in.
“We’re walking around COVID-free, which is fantastic, but the downside of that is there’s no risk can be taken in losing those freedoms.
“It’s been a very difficult time for everyone, but you can’t help but feel that we’re always the ones missing out.”