MATTER OF TIME TO HIT BIG LEAGUE

BRISBANE Heat star Haidee Birkett says it’s “only a matter of time” before Townsville joins the Women’s Big Bash League party, adamant lights would make Riverway Stadium more marketable for top- level cricket fixtures.

Cairns will host a Heat WBBL game for the first time on January 12, while Mackay’s Harrup Park will also host a match after becoming the first regional city in Queensland to stage a WBBL round last summer.

Harrup Park underwent a $ 1 million upgrade to its lighting in 2016, paving the way to host the Heat women’s games at night, and the venue is in the midst of undergoing other multi- milliondollar upgrades in a bid to make it a potential suitor for Big Bash League and AFL games.

Birkett ( pictured left), who honed her craft in the Townsville competition before joining the Queensland cricket system out of school, said improving lights was the logical next move to ensure Riverway did not get left behind.

“I think that will be the next step for Riverway; it will just make it even more marketable,” Birkett said. “What they did in Mackay was make it a big family night and we just happened to be playing over on the field on lights.”

In recent years, Queensland Cricket has employed a strategy of sharing JLT Cup, Sheffield Shield, Women’s Big Bash League and tour matches featuring international sides between Mackay, Townsville and Cairns.

Townsville hosted a tour match between England and Australia A last year and a Sheffield Shield fixture the year before that.

Birkett, who until recently worked in game marketing development for Queensland Cricket, is leading the charge for WBBL to follow suit.

“I keep bugging the guys to put one on in Townsville, and they say they need to spread it out,” Birkett said.

“I’m really excited for the year we get to go to Townsville. I’m not sure when that will happen, but I keep pushing for it. It will ( happen), it’s more a case of sharing it around then picking places that are better than each other. I think all the grounds up there are on par ….

“Townsville got some of the boys’ matches, so they have to share it ( WBBL) with Mackay and Cairns. The year the boys don’t go to Townsville, I’m sure we will.”