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WA Cricket CEO Christina Matthews concedes Perth’s T20 international hopes ‘highly unlikely’

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Jordan McArdleThe West Australian
WA Cricket Christina Matthews conceded that Perth’s hopes of snatching a Twenty20 international this summer after the February 5 State border re-opening date were ‘highly unlikely’.
Camera IconWA Cricket Christina Matthews conceded that Perth’s hopes of snatching a Twenty20 international this summer after the February 5 State border re-opening date were ‘highly unlikely’. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The West Australian

WA Cricket Christina Matthews conceded that Perth’s hopes of snatching a Twenty20 international this summer after the February 5 State border re-opening date were “highly unlikely”.

Cricket Australia is expected to announce a revised New Zealand series schedule, which includes no Perth one-day international on January 30, on the back of a national cabinet meeting across the Tasman on Monday.

The three-match ODI series is currently scheduled to start at Optus Stadium on January 30 but WA’s hard COVID-19 border restrictions, which aren’t eased until February 5, have made that impossible to go ahead as planned as flagged in The West Australian on Thursday.

It is understood the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Sydney Cricket Ground and Canberra’s Manuka Oval have been discussed as alternate venues for the series opener.

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Perth looks set to miss out on more international cricket this summer, even after the border opens.
Camera IconPerth looks set to miss out on more international cricket this summer, even after the border opens. Credit: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Australia take on New Zealand in a one-off T20, currently scheduled for February 8 in Canberra, before a five-game series against Sri Lanka starting at the SCG on February 11.

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“Getting a T20 after February 5 is unlikely, given that they’re already scheduled,” Matthews said.

“The one-dayers are all against New Zealand and the T20s are all against Sri Lanka so it’s a different framework and you’ll have to change the MOU (memorandum of understanding) with the team, so I think a T20 (in Perth) is highly unlikely.”

Matthews stopped short of confirming the January 30 ODI was off but said with all other states in the extreme risk border category due to huge spikes in COVID-19 numbers, it put the game in “extreme unlikelihood”.

“The problem is the very strict rules we have here in WA that have never changed,” Matthews said.

“We know that there’s nobody from any other state allowed to come into WA, they’re all at extreme risk, so that puts the game in extreme unlikelihood.

“With the Test match (in Hobart) now finished, I would expect this week (it will be made official).”

The ODI looks all but certian to be cancelled. Pictured: Aaron Finch.
Camera IconThe ODI looks all but certian to be cancelled. Pictured: Aaron Finch. Credit: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

It’s been a tough summer for cricket fans in WA with only one Perth Scorchers home game, their season opener against Brisbane Heat on December 8, going ahead at Optus Stadium.

The rest have were played interstate, with the Scorchers final regular-season match against the Heat at Marvel Stadium on Monday night their 13th consecutive on the road.

Coach Adam Voges confirmed the team’s request to also play any ‘home’ finals at the Docklands venue with Optus Stadium not an option.

The final Ashes Test, which finished on Sunday night with Australia winning the series 4-0, was due to be played at Optus Stadium before getting moved to Hobart’s Blundstone Arena because of border issues.

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