Traeger Park in Alice Springs to make BBL debut

Traeger Park in Alice Springs is all set to make its debut to host the Big Bash League (BBL) matches, the Australian domestic T20 tournament. The venue was confirmed after the deal between Adelaide Strikers and Northern Territory Government was confirmed. The venue will be an adopted home for Strikers where they will play a total of three games across Men’s and Women’s BBL next season.

The ground has previously hosted the Sheffield Shield final earlier this year when the Victoria Bushrangers won their third successive title. Australia national team also had an intensive training camp at Traeger Park as a part of their preparation for the Bangladesh tour. The venue will host 3 matches on January 13 and 14 next year as in BBL Strikers will take on Scorchers and in WBBL same teams will lock horns twice in two days.

We are very excited

Jason Gillespie, the coach of Adelaide Strikers, was excited to play at the new venue and welcomed the move by Cricket Australia (CA) to take cricket to Northern Territory (NT). “We’re all about growing the game and we need to bring it to the public as much as we can. We see it as our responsibility and duty to get it out there to these places and we’re absolutely buzzing about the opportunity and hopefully getting some fans to travel and support us in Alice Springs. It’ll be a wonderful atmosphere and experience in the red centre of Australia and we’re very excited,” he said.

The CEO the cricket in NT Troy Watson was extremely happy that the stars will be travelling to such a remote city and hoped the fans will come out and support their favourite teams.

“It’s a significant opportunity for the NT to host a game of this magnitude. Recent census results show a more than 36% increase in participation in cricket in the NT, with participation rates in remote communities at an all-time high, so hosting a game where our fans can interact and enjoy the spectacle of the BBL is an exciting opportunity for our players, clubs and fans alike,” Watson said.