Cricket Australia’s announcement that it will expand the number of Big Bash games next season is great news for Tasmanian cricket lovers.
We need to seize this opportunity to make sure the North gets its fair share too.
With the Hurricanes to play an extra home game next season this is the perfect opportunity to bring the Big Bash to Launceston and I have written to Cricket Tasmania calling on them to make sure Launceston is front and centre when it comes to scheduling the additional game.
The newly appointed CEO of Cricket Tasmania, Nick Cummins, said he wanted the Hurricanes to become a team for all Tasmanians, and my call fits perfectly with that.
By playing BBL games in Launceston, the Hurricanes could massively boost its membership and become one of the competition’s powerhouse sides.
Northern Tasmania has produced some of the game’s biggest superstars and it would be great for the current generation of cricket heroes, like George Bailey, to be able to play elite-level cricket in front of their home crowd.
The Hurricanes’ women’s team has already played a number of games in Launceston and has received tremendous support from the community.
It clearly means a lot to local players, like Brooke Hepburn, to be able to play in Launceston and there is no reason why the men’s team can’t play here as well.
The University of Tasmania Stadium at Inveresk is a world-class facility and as we have seen with Ricky Ponting’s charity match, it’s a fantastic venue for big events.
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