TASSIE OPENS THE BATTING FOR WOMEN’S BIG BASH
Australian and Sydney Sixers regular Alyssa Healy is one of the stars of the WBBL.
“COME and live like a Tasmanian” was the selling point that enabled the state to help land the first 20 games of the women’s Big Bash cricket season.
Australia’s fourth mostwatched domestic competition – behind the AFL, NRL and the BBL — the WBBL will start next month with games split between Hobart and Launceston, Cricket Tasmania chief executive Dominic Baker said.
“We are saying to cricketers from all around the country to come to Tasmania and live like a Tasmanian while you are playing cricket, which is absolutely fantastic,” Mr Baker said.
“(It) made the decision pretty easy for Cricket Australia to get down here … to play 20 games over a threeweek period will be absolutely sensational.”
The first match will be on October 14 between the Sydney Sixers and the Melbourne Stars at Blundstone Arena, with the Hurricanes’ first game on October 16 against the Renegades, also in Hobart.
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein said it would not cost the state a cent with the costs to be split between CT and Cricket Australia.
“This is fantastic news and will showcase our state to the rest of the nation, along with presenting significant opportunities for local businesses who will benefit from the increase in trade,” Mr Gutwein said.
With teams coming from Covid hot spots in Victoria and NSW, Mr Gutwein said strict protocols would be put in place, but not at the expense of Tasmanians returning home.
Mr Baker also said while not officially cancelled, it was highly unlikely the AustraliaAfghanistan Test scheduled for Hobart in November would proceed.
Despite not hosting a Test match for five years, he said CT would back the stance to cancel the game given the hard line position the recently returned Taliban government has on banning women’s sport.
“We are an organisation that has backed female sport 100 per cent,” Mr Baker said.
“We don't just believe that is good for Tasmania, we believe it is good for Australia and we believe it is good globally.
“We are a leader in the game and we’ve got to take a leading stance and while the new Afghanistan government doesn’t allow female sport, in particular female cricket, I think we have to make a stand.”