Border closure hinders Big Bash League

Cricket Australia is on tenterhooks waiting to see if it requires special exemptions to get Big Bash teams into Perth after Western Australia slammed its border shut on Victoria.

The Scorchers are due to host the Melbourne Renegades tomorrow but as of yesterday there were still questions over how teams would enter the state.

Cricket Australia’s hub system has so far protected the BBL from the latest Covid-19 outbreak, with matches not being played in NSW.

But the closure of the Western Australia border poses the most serious challenge so far, with anyone who has been in Victoria since December 21 not allowed in.

While the Scorchers flew back to Perth yesterday, it’s understood there are question marks over the Renegades as well as the Sydney Sixers, who play in Perth on Wednesday.

Renegades captain Aaron Finch was one player to spend time at home in Victoria before Christmas.

The Sixers have also had a coach come in from Melbourne while others members of the hub have had families come in over Christmas from Victoria.

In turn, there is a fear that would make anyone they mixed with in the touring parties close contacts, therefore throwing into question whether teams could enter.

If Cricket Australia is able to secure exemptions from the Western Australian government for those who have been in Victoria, there would be no issues.

If it can’t, it’s likely it will attempt to enact play-in-quarantinemeasures, where players only leave hotels to go to the ground in a similar style to how the AFL season was conducted.

In the worst-case scenario matches could bemoved, but that remains highly unlikely.

The situation is another reminder of why CA was desperate to play the tournament in strict hubs, given there didn’t appear to be any apparent threat in Victoria just three days ago.