Sydney BBL teams lose home games including derbies to border closures

Sydney's Big Bash teams have lost seven home games including two derbies due to ongoing border closures due to COVID-19.

Cricket Australia issued a statement on Monday night announcing that the Sydney games would be moved to Melbourne and Adelaide.

Two Melbourne fixtures have also been moved to Canberra and Adelaide due to border restrictions between Queensland and Victoria.

Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers have lost home games due to border restrictions.Credit:Getty

The governing body originally expressed a desire to retain the games in Sydney, but with continuing border closures Head of Big Bash Leagues Alistair Dobson said moving venues would guarantee a "full, safe and successful" season.

“The decision to make these adjustments to the KFC BBL|10 schedule was necessary to ensure the continuation of the season in light of the ongoing public health situation and related state border closures,” Dobson said.

“The movement of these games has been made possible thanks to a large group of stakeholders including Governments, our KFC BBL clubs and State and Territory Associations and our broadcast and commercial partners, whose hard work, understanding and flexibility we greatly appreciate.

“We’d also like to take the opportunity again to recognise the players, staff and match officials who have shown incredible resilience and flexibility to adapt to the ever-changing landscape and successfully implemented bio secure hubs in each market, which have allowed us to keep the BBL moving.”

The clash on January 14 between the Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Renegades originally scheduled for Marvel Stadium will be moved to Manuka Oval and the Strikers-Heat match set down for January 21 at the MCG will be played at Adelaide Oval.

The Sydney derby on January 22 has been moved to Adelaide Oval, which will alsohost the Thunder-Strikers match on January 24.

The Sixers will take on the Hurricanes at the MCG instead of the SCG on January 24 before the Thunder again take on the Strikers on January 25. On Australia Day, the Heat will play the Scorchers at a venue yet to be decided.

“We have elected to move this Thursday’s Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Renegades match from Marvel Stadium to Manuka Oval given the Victorian Government’s current restrictions on travel from Brisbane and to create certainty that this fixture can be delivered,” Dobson said.

“Unfortunately, given the difficulty in providing a safe and secure environment for fans to attend at such short notice, including the ACT Government’s requirement that all tickets go off sale 24 hours prior to the match, tickets to this match will not be available to the public."

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