Western Australia’s strict COVID-19 restrictions have cost the state a big cricket game for the first – though possibly not last – time this summer.
The Big Bash League announced a Perth Scorchers game will have to be played in Sydney rather than in the western capital due to the state’s rules.
The Scorchers’ home games at Perth’s Optus Stadium on December 8 and 20 are able to go ahead as planned. But their December 11 game against Adelaide Strikers will now be played at Sydney Showground rather than in Perth.
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“The Strikers will have travelled through Victoria four days prior to that match and will be unable to enter Western Australia due to Victoria’s classification as an extreme risk jurisdiction,” a BBL statement explained.
Bizarrely, the game will begin at 9.30pm (AEDT). That’s when it would have started in Sydney time anyway, but if it was played in Perth it would have started at 6.30pm local time – a much more reasonable time for players, and fans actually wanting to attend the fixture live.
Western Australia is holding out hope of hosting the fifth Ashes Test between Australia and England in January, but the state’s tough restrictions threaten to force the relocation of that match to a different state.
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“We understand Scorchers fans will be disappointed with the need to move December 11 match out of Perth,” BBL general manager Alistair Dobson said.
“The league is committed to taking as many home Scorchers matches to Optus Stadium as possible and we look forward to providing further positive updates in the coming weeks.”
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