Cricket Australia has no interest in relocating the Sydney Thunder to Canberra, with the men in lime green receiving an additional home match at Sydney Showground this season.
ENGIE Stadium will host four Big Bash League matches this summer, up from three last season, including a Sydney derby between the Thunder and Sixers on Saturday, December 21.
The venue’s turning deck produced several low-scoring contests last summer, including the Perth Scorchers’ seven-wicket victory over the Thunder in January, which the spin bowlers dominated.
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Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting criticised the “substandard” pitch during the match, proposing the Thunder permanently relocate to the nation’s capital given the state of the wicket.
“The Sydney Thunder have been a struggling team for the last few years,” Ponting said.
“How are you going to attract young players from around the team or overseas, if they’re going to be batting on a wicket like that?
“The Thunder for years have talked about how much they love playing in Canberra, maybe that’s a solution.”
Lowest scoring rate among BBL venues
7.76 — Sydney Showground
7.83 — WACA
7.90 — SCG
7.90 — MCG
7.98 — Docklands
* Minimum 15 matches
However, CA’s general manager of Big Bash Leagues Alistair Dobson has declared the Thunder is committed to embedding themselves in western Sydney, one of the country’s most populated and culturally diverse regions.
Last December, a record 22,102 fans attended the Sydney derby at ENGIE Stadium, the highest attendance for any sporting event at Sydney Showground.
“The Sydney Thunder are a proud western Sydney club that have moved an extra home game back to the Showgrounds this coming season,” Dobson told Fox Cricket this week.
“They’re committed to that region and see the growth potential there. That’s their home.
“The opportunity to play a big Sydney derby in Western Sydney is a great reason the club continues to double down in western Sydney.
“That said, Canberra is a really important market for the Big Bash. They’ve got great history, some great games and a great venue.
“There’s another two games there this year, and we look forward to getting back there.”
Thunder captain Chris Green, entering the final season of his record six-year deal with the club, also brushed aside speculation about the franchise relocating to Canberra.
“This is our home ground,” Green declared earlier this year.
“I’d hate to see us move down (to Canberra) permanently. I like staying at home, playing at home, having my family come and watch me play. This is our home base.”
Manuka Oval will host two BBL matches this summer, with the Thunder and Melbourne Stars each allocated a home game at the Canberra venue on Tuesday, December 17 and Saturday, December 28 respectively.
Meanwhile, Cricket ACT recently launched a multimillion-dollar bid to enter teams in the men’s and women’s Big Bash competitions and become a joint owner of CA.
The BBL fixtures for the 2024/25 season were revealed on Friday morning, with the 14th edition of the tournament getting underway on Sunday, December 15.
BBL Fixtures for 2024/25 season
All times local
Sunday, December 15, 2024 — Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Stars at Optus Stadium, 4:15PM
Monday, December 16, 2024 — Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Renegades at the SCG, 7.15pm
Tuesday, December 17, 2024 — Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers at Manuka Oval, 7:15pm
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 — Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat at the MCG, 7:15pm
Thursday, December 19, 2024 — Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes at GMHBA Stadium, 7.15pm
Friday, December 20, 2024 — Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars at Adelaide Oval, 6.45pm
Saturday, December 21, 2024 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Perth Scorchers at Blundstone Arena, 4pm
Saturday, December 21, 2024 — Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers at ENGIE Stadium, 7.15pm
Sunday, December 22, 2024 — Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers at the Gabba, 6.15pm
Monday, December 23, 2024 — Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers at Marvel Stadium, 7:15pm
Thursday, December 26, 2024 — Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars at the SCG, 6.05pm
Thursday, December 26, 2024 — Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat at Optus Stadium, 6:15pm
Friday, December 27, 2024 — Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes at Adelaide Oval, 6:45pm
Saturday, December 28, 2024 — Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder at Manuka Oval, 7:15PM
Sunday, December 29, 2024 — Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers at the Gabba, 6:15pm
Monday, December 30, 2024 — Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades at ENGIE Stadium, 7:15PM
Tuesday, December 31, 2024 — Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers at Adelaide Oval, 6:45pm
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers, Blundstone Arena, 4pm
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 — Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars at the Gabba, 6:15pm
Thursday, January 2, 2025 — Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers at Marvel Stadium, 7:15pm
Friday, January 3, 2025 — Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat at C.ex Coffs International Stadium, 6:05pm
Friday, January 3, 2025 — Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Thunder at Optus Stadium, 6.15pm
Saturday, January 4, 2025 — Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades at the MCG, 7:15pm
Sunday, January 5, 2025 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers at Blundstone Arena, 7:15pm
Monday, January 6, 2025 — Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder at the Gabba, 6.15pm
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 — Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Renegades at Optus Stadium, 4.15pm
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 — Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes at ENGIE Stadium, 7:15pm
Thursday, January 9, 2025 — Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers at the MCG, 7:15pm
Friday, January 10, 2025 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder at Blundstone Arena, 7:15pm
Saturday, January 11, 2025 — Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers at the SCG, 4:45pm
Saturday, January 11, 2025 — Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat at Adelaide Oval, 7:30pm
Sunday, January 12, 2025 — Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars at Marvel Stadium, 7:15pm
Monday, January 13, 2025 — Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers at ENGIE Stadium, 7:30pm
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades, Blundstone Arena, 7:30pm
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 — Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Sixers at Adelaide Oval, 7pm
Thursday, January 16, 2025 — Brisbane Heat vs Hobart Hurricanes at the Gabba, 6.30pm
Friday, January 17, 2025 — Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder at the SCG, 7:15pm
Saturday, January 18, 2025 — Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat at Marvel Stadium, 5pm
Saturday, January 18, 2025 — Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers at Optus Stadium, 5.15pm
Sunday, January 19, 2025 — Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes at the MCG, 7.15pm
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 — The Qualifier (TBC)
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 — The Knockout (TBC)
Friday, January 24, 2025 — The Challenger (TBC)
Monday, January 27, 2025 — The Final (TBC)
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 — Reserve Day (TBC)