Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland would like to see Tasmania’s eight matches in the next Twenty20 World Cup shared between Hobart and Launceston.
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However, the sport’s national figurehead admits the scenario is unlikely and out of his hands.
It was announced in January that eight matches in the 2020 men’s T20 tournament will be played at Bellerive Oval, the venue which also staged three games in cricket’s 2015 ODI World Cup.
Sutherland has since admitted he would like to see those six group-stage and two second-stage matches shared with UTAS Stadium.
“I think from our perspective CA would ideally like to spread more matches from the World T20 event around the country,” he said.
“The major obstacle is that this is an ICC-owned event and there are strict requirements around the maximum number of venues that can be used.
“As I understand it, this limitation primarily relates to cost to prepare and dress each ground and broadcast production related issues for these global events. All these costs are borne by the ICC, not the broadcaster, hence the limitations they place on number of venues.”
In a letter to The Sunday Examiner’s columnist Brian Roe, Sutherland said CA had noticed Hobart Hurricanes’ highest home Big Bash League attendance this season (16,734) was recorded at their match in Launceston.
This compared to crowds of 11,010, 12,167, 12,896 and 14,873 for fixtures in Hobart.
“It was great to see such a good crowd at UTAS Stadium for the BBL match – hopefully the Hurricanes can schedule another match or two there next year,” Sutherland said.
In the 2015 Cricket World Cup, Bellerive drew crowds of 4048 for Ireland v Zimbabwe, 3466 for Sri Lanka v Scotland and 12,044 for Scotland v Australia, all well below the figure of 15,457 that attended the Rugby World Cup match between Namibia and Romania in Launceston in 2003.
In a letter to Sutherland, Roe highlighted the Bellerive crowd of just 9958 that turned out earlier this month for a T20i between Australia and England – Tasmania’s solitary day of international cricket this summer.
Admitting the late finish and clash with the first day of a new school year did the fixture no favours, the Launceston sports administrator said the figure was reflective of Hurricanes attendances at the venue this season.
Roe asked Sutherland what barriers might prevent sharing the eight T20 World Cup matches between Bellerive and UTAS Stadium.
“Tasmanians have invested heavily in both venues to meet the specific requirements of sport governing bodies such as CA,” he said.
“Is it not logical to make the best use of both – for the benefit of cricket and all Tasmanians?
“Why not give the full geographical spread of Tasmanians the chance to embrace the lesser-supported countries, as they did so enthusiastically when Namibia and Romania faced off in the Rugby World Cup in 2003?
“Is the door open to examine these possibilities as well as an increase in Hurricanes games and other international matches in Launceston?”
Matches in the next men’s T20 World Cup will run from October 18 to November 15, 2020.
Together with Geelong’s Kardinia Park, Bellerive will be a home base for group stages before the country’s traditional cricket grounds take centre stage.
No other ground will host more than seven games during the tournament.
World Cup crowds
- 2003 (rugby) Namibia v Romania (Launceston) 15,457
- 2015 (cricket) Ireland v Zimbabwe (Hobart) 4048
- 2015 (cricket) Sri Lanka v Scotland (Hobart) 3466
- 2015 (cricket) Scotland v Australia (Hobart) 12,044