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July 12, 2024
Cricket Australia is not considering relocating the Sydney Thunder to Canberra. Instead, the Thunder will play an extra home game at Sydney Showground this season.
ENGIE Stadium will host four Big Bash League matches this summer, up from three last year. Notably, it will feature a Sydney derby between the Thunder and Sixers on Saturday, December 21.
Last season, the venue’s spinning wicket led to several low-scoring games, including the Perth Scorchers’ seven-wicket win over the Thunder in January, dominated by spin bowlers.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting criticized the “substandard” pitch during the match and suggested that the Thunder permanently relocate to Canberra due to the poor state of the wicket.
“The Sydney Thunder have been a struggling team for the last few years,” Ponting said.
“How are you going to attract young players from around the team or overseas, if they’re going to be batting on a wicket like that?
“The Thunder for years have talked about how much they love playing in Canberra, maybe that’s a solution.”
Lowest scoring rate among BBL venues
7.76 — Sydney Showground
7.83 — WACA
7.90 — SCG
7.90 — MCG
7.98 — Docklands
Minimum 15 matches
However, CA’s General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, Alistair Dobson, affirmed that the Thunder is dedicated to staying in western Sydney, one of the country’s most populous and culturally diverse areas.
Last December, a record crowd of 22,102 fans attended the Sydney derby at ENGIE Stadium, marking the highest attendance for any sporting event at Sydney Showground.
“The Sydney Thunder are a proud western Sydney club that have moved an extra home game back to the Showgrounds this coming season,” Dobson told Fox Cricket this week.
“They’re committed to that region and see the growth potential there. That’s their home.
“The opportunity to play a big Sydney derby in Western Sydney is a great reason the club continues to double down in western Sydney.
“That said, Canberra is a really important market for the Big Bash. They’ve got great history, some great games and a great venue.
“There’s another two games there this year, and we look forward to getting back there.”
Thunder captain Chris Green, entering the final season of his record six-year contract with the club, also dismissed speculation about the franchise moving to Canberra.
“This is our home ground,” Green declared earlier this year.
“I’d hate to see us move down (to Canberra) permanently. I like staying at home, playing at home, having my family come and watch me play. This is our home base.”
This summer, Manuka Oval will host two BBL games. The Thunder will play the Melbourne Stars at the Canberra venue on Tuesday, December 17, while the Stars will face the Thunder on Saturday, December 28.
In other news, Cricket ACT has recently launched a multimillion-dollar bid to enter teams in both the men’s and women’s Big Bash competitions and to become a joint owner of Cricket Australia.
The BBL fixtures for the 2024/25 season were announced on Friday morning. The 14th edition of the tournament will begin on Sunday, December 15.
BBL Fixtures for the 2024/25 season
All times local
Sunday, December 15, 2024 — Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Stars at Optus Stadium, 4:15 pm
Monday, December 16, 2024 — Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Renegades at the SCG, 7.15 pm
Tuesday, December 17, 2024 — Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers at Manuka Oval, 7:15 pm
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 — Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat at the MCG, 7:15 pm
Thursday, December 19, 2024 — Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes at GMHBA
Stadium, 7.15 pm
Friday, December 20, 2024 — Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars at Adelaide Oval, 6.45 pm
Saturday, December 21, 2024 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Perth Scorchers at Blundstone Arena, 4 pm
Saturday, December 21, 2024 — Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers at ENGIE Stadium, 7.15 pm
Sunday, December 22, 2024 — Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers at the Gabba, 6.15 pm
Monday, December 23, 2024 — Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers at Marvel Stadium,
7:15 pm
Thursday, December 26, 2024 — Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars at the SCG, 6.05 pm
Thursday, December 26, 2024 — Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat at Optus Stadium, 6:15 pm
Friday, December 27, 2024 — Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes at Adelaide Oval, 6:45 pm
Saturday, December 28, 2024 — Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder at Manuka Oval, 7:15 pm
Sunday, December 29, 2024 — Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers at the Gabba, 6:15 pm
Monday, December 30, 2024 — Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades at ENGIE Stadium, 7:15 pm
Tuesday, December 31, 2024 — Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers at Adelaide Oval, 6:45 pm
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers, Blundstone Arena, 4 pm
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 — Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars at the Gabba, 6:15 pm
Thursday, January 2, 2025 — Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers at Marvel Stadium, 7:15 pm
Friday, January 3, 2025 — Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat at C.ex Coffs International Stadium, 6:05 pm
Friday, January 3, 2025 — Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Thunder at Optus Stadium, 6.15 pm
Saturday, January 4, 2025 — Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades at the MCG, 7:15 pm
Sunday, January 5, 2025 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers at Blundstone Arena, 7:15 pm
Monday, January 6, 2025 — Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder at the Gabba, 6.15 pm
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 — Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Renegades at Optus Stadium, 4.15 pm
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 — Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes at ENGIE Stadium, 7:15 pm
Thursday, January 9, 2025 — Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers at the MCG, 7:15 pm
Friday, January 10, 2025 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder at Blundstone Arena, 7:15 pm
Saturday, January 11, 2025 — Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers at the SCG, 4:45 pm
Saturday, January 11, 2025 — Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat at Adelaide Oval, 7:30 pm
Sunday, January 12, 2025 — Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars at Marvel Stadium, 7:15 pm
Monday, January 13, 2025 — Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers at ENGIE Stadium, 7:30 pm
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades, Blundstone Arena, 7:30 pm
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 — Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Sixers at Adelaide Oval, 7 pm
Thursday, January 16, 2025 — Brisbane Heat vs Hobart Hurricanes at the Gabba, 6.30 pm
Friday, January 17, 2025 — Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder at the SCG, 7:15 pm
Saturday, January 18, 2025 — Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat at Marvel Stadium, 5 pm
Saturday, January 18, 2025 — Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers at Optus Stadium, 5.15 pm
Sunday, January 19, 2025 — Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes at the MCG, 7.15 pm
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 — The Qualifier (TBC)
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 — The Knockout (TBC)
Friday, January 24, 2025 — The Challenger (TBC)
Monday, January 27, 2025 — The Final (TBC)
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 — Reserve Day (TBC).
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Top Cricket News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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