HOWZAT
Gold Coast locks in the BBL ... now bring on Test cricket
Fresh from landing four T20 matches this summer, Metricon Stadium is now being considered as a possible Test cricket venue
IT is set to be raining sixes when the Big Bash League makes its long-awaited arrival on the Gold Coast this summer.
Short square boundaries at Metricon Stadium plus the presence of Brisbane’s “Bash Brothers” Chris Lynn (pictured) and Brendon McCullum will make for an action-packed introduction to Carrara.
And if successful, Mayor Tom Tate is keen to snare a Test match off Brisbane.
IT is set to be raining sixes when the Big Bash League makes its long-awaited arrival on the Gold Coast this summer.
Short square boundaries at Metricon Stadium plus the presence of Brisbane’s “Bash Brothers” Brendon McCullum and Chris Lynn will make for an action-packed introduction to Carrara.
And if hosting BBL games at Metricon Stadium is successful, then Gold Coast heavy-hitters are prepared to launch a bid for a Test match.
“One thing about the Gold Coast is we know how to put on events,” Mayor Tom Tate said.
“This cricket event is going to be spectacular and for all the families. You take your children and it’s a great atmosphere.
“I would welcome Test cricket here. The facility is available.”
The prospect of watching Lynn and McCullum is sure to delight fans, with the likelihood of 200-plus scores promising an entertaining night of cricket as the Twenty20 format meets the equally fastpaced Gold Coast.
“The straight boundaries here are pretty similar to that of the Gabba but some of the square boundaries will be much shorter,” Heat general manager Andrew McShea said.
“Everyone who attends the game will need to keep their eyes on the ball because everyone is in the game to a degree. I think we are going to see some great moments played here over summer.”
The Heat will take two games to Metricon – against Hobart on December 22 and the Sydney Sixers on January 1 – while the Melbourne Stars will host the Sydney Thunder there on January 5.
Test opener Matt Renshaw is likely to be occupied at that point with five-day cricket but agrees there will be no shortage of crowd catches for Gold Coasters.
“I don’t think Chris Lynn needs too short boundaries, seeing him hit one out of the Gabba,” said Renshaw.
Eight of the past 10 Heat matches at the Gabba have been sold out and Renshaw expects tickets to be snapped up quickly for the Coast games.
“After a Gabba game for the Heat, you go to the South Bank station and it is always packed with people coming back down to the Gold Coast, so I’m pretty sure you will be able to get a few people in here and probably will have to turn away a few people as well,” he said.
McShea said ticket prices would be even cheaper than at the Gabba.
“We have always prioritised keeping tickets really affordable at the Gabba. We are actually generally maintaining our year one prices from 2011 so families for $48 for two adults and two kids,” he said.
“At the Gold Coast here at Metricon it will actually be marginally cheaper than that as well.” Tickets will go on sale to the public in October.