Cricket Australia has defended the decision to play the Big Bash League final in Canberra on Wednesday despite the Perth Scorchers having earned the right to host the decider for a fourth successive season.
Not only do the Scorchers miss a home final against the Sydney Sixers on Wednesday, but they face the prospect of a hostile environment with the Sixers expected to receive the majority of support in Canberra.
In the first three years of the BBL, the highest-ranked team staged the final.
On all three occasions, that was the Scorchers, hosting the match at the WACA Ground, where they firstly lost to the Sixers and Brisbane Heat before beating the Hobart Hurricanes last season.
And again, with the Scorchers beating the Melbourne Stars on Sunday, after the top-placed Adelaide Strikers lost to the Sixers on Saturday, it would have been Perth hosting the final at the WACA but that decision had already been made months ago.
Despite the WACA being vacant until India plays England in the last Tri-Series clash on Friday ahead of Sunday’s final, Cricket Australia had booked in the BBL final for Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Scorchers star Nathan Coulter-Nile played his first BBL game of the season after a hamstring injury and was disappointed the final wouldn’t be in Perth.
“It’s a bit unfortunate that we can’t have it at the WACA,” Coulter-Nile said.
“That would have been nice for four straight years, but it’s something we’ll have to come up against.”
A Cricket Australia spokesperson outlined the reasons for the decision that was largely based on several venues not be available due to preparations for the World Cup.
“We understand there will be supporters of the Perth Scorchers who will be disappointed not to have their team play a home Big Bash final,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“It is important to note that staging the BBL Final in the neutral venue of Canberra is a one-off as a result of Australia hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup.
“Next year, we will revert to the final being played in the home city of the top-qualifying team.
“In order to be fair, and to provide as much certainty as possible for teams, fans, broadcasters and ground staff in this unique summer of cricket, Canberra was identified as a suitable location for the BBL final.
“The final is a sellout.”
mattyb
Guest
1. Everyday Scorchers game is a sell out 2.So Manuka is going to go 9,000 over capacity? 3. They play Scorchers games at 4pm to fit in with the eastern states. 4. Why do a power point comment Alex when every power point is blatantly and embarrassingly wrong?
13th Man
Roar Pro
Mate I went to 3 Scorchers Games this year including the Semi I can guarantee it was a sellout in each game. The Scorchers crowd were fantastic and it felt like I was at a Freo Dockers Home Game, Atmosphere was electric. The fact is Manuka oval fits in even less people than the WACA so less people get to go. Also your argument that Canberra is on at GMT plus 10 is also rubbish. Perth games are played at 4 10 to match up to the Eastern States so that precious Eastern State viewers such as yourself dont have to stay up to late to watch the Cricket.
Don Freo
Guest
WACA sold out every time. Your capacity has obviously been adjusted for OH&S. Manuka is tiny by comparison. What point are you trying to make? That Scorchers fans don't turn up? That CA is punishing them for tiny crowds? Alex, you are a dill.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
1. WACA capacity is 24k and it hasn't been a sell out to date. 2. Manuka can go over the alleged 13k capacity. 3. Canberra is on GMT +10 which is also where the TV money is.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Well besides the fact the Scorchers have the best performing bowling attack and a road probably will go a long way to neutralising it.
13th Man
Roar Pro
The Home final should be in the city of the team that was the highest team in the GF. Perth have earnt the right to host the final every year but people have a problem with this for some reason. The reason which a 'neutral venue' was chosen was because the MCG isn't available. Typical Eastern States bias, everyone expected Stars to make the final so they change it for all the teams. Surely if the Stars hosted the final they could have it at Etihad Stadium. Still seats 60k. Perth fans not happy and so they should be.
13th Man
Roar Pro
"Crowds refusing to get over 20k" Thats because thats all that fits in to the WACA. Once the new 60k seat stadium is built it will get full for both AFL and Cricket. Anyway Manuka oval seats 13k so whats your point.
Bobbo7
Guest
Given it will be on a road the home final thing makes little difference. The team that has someone tee off the best wins T20.
Don Freo
Guest
That's incisive thinking. The capacity for Manuka Oval is just under 13,000...that's7,000 less than the WACA's capacity. Crowds don't refuse to get over 20,000. It is all that can get in. If capacity was 200,000, we'd fill it.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Perth fans will have a sook, but with crowd numbers stubbornly refusing to get over 20k it's hard to blame CA for selecting a neutral venue.
Don Freo
Guest
If we went on Freddie Wilde's preseason preview...and inverted all his predicted placings...we could have predicted the finals. He had Adelaide second last and Scorchers last...with the Hussey/Kallis Thunder on top. Probably because the only two cricketers he knew were Kallis and Hussey and the only city he knows is Sydney. A review and further comment on your preview would make interesting reading, Freddie.
jameswm
Guest
Sure, bias right? Who knew in advance which team would have had the right to host it? Interesting though that Perth have lost 2 of the three finals they've hosted, including one against the Sixers. Maybe Perth are better off in Canberra.
ren
Guest
typical eastern state bs. The final should be in Perth every year.