Sydneysiders to get a bumper season of cricket

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Sydneysiders to get a bumper season of cricket


Sydney cricket fans can look forward to a bumper season of cricket this coming summer with the announcement of 2010-11 Cricket Australia fixture list.



The jewel in the crown will be the Ashes Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting on Monday 3rd January. With England currently holding the Ashes, and the Australian team desperate for revenge the series promises to be a close one, with Sydney potentially hosting a decisive 5th Test.



The Test match has already proved popular with fans with days One, Two and Three already sold out.



Sydney fans will get a further opportunity to see International cricket with Australia playing England in two day-night One Day Internationals at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday January 23rd and Wednesday February 2nd.



For those fans looking for a taste of International action earlier in the season, Australia will play the talented Sri Lankan side at the Sydney Cricket Ground in a day-night match on Friday 5th November. The Sri Lankans will provide formidable opposition with the calibre of player such as Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lasith Malinga, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara on display.



At Domestic level it promises to be the most action-packed season ever for Sydney fans.



The RTA SpeedBlitz Blues start their campaign with two matches against the touring Sri Lankans. A one-day fixture against the Sri Lankans at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday 24th October, will be followed by a piece of history being made.



On Wednesday 27th October the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues will play their first-ever match at the newly built Blacktown Olympic Park when they take on Sri Lanka in a Twenty20 fixture. A big crowd is expected as the venue gets a chance to host an International side for the first time.



Blacktown Olympic Park will also host its first-ever First class fixture when the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues take on Queensland in the Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield starting on Saturday 18th December.



In the newly named National One-Day Cup (formerly Ford Ranger Cup), fans of the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues will get their first chance to see the new format of the competition when New South Wales takes on Western Australia at Hurstville Oval on Sunday 17th October. The competition will be played over split innings of 20 and 25 overs this year, with other innovations including: 12 players per side, bowlers being allowed to bowl up to 12 overs and new fielding restrictions.



The RTA SpeedBlitz Blues will also host a match at Drummoyne Oval. The ground, which has hosted a domestic one-day fixture before, has recently had a new pavilion opened that features new changing rooms, grandstand and viewing rooms.



The KFC Big Bash has also seen changes this year with an additional round of fixtures guaranteeing each State three home matches. This year the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues will entertain Western Australia (Sunday 9th January), Tasmania (Wednesday 19th January) and Queensland (Saturday 29th January) at Sydney Olympic Park.



These matches promise to be even more popular than last year when Cricket NSW broke the domestic attendance record for a KFC Big Bash match when 29,743 turned out at Sydney Olympic Park for the Queensland fixture.



On the women's front the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars play their own 'Ashes Test' starting on Saturday 22nd January at Sydney's Bankstown Oval.



The NSW Breakers will be in action in three 50 over home fixtures starting at North Sydney Oval on Saturday 16th October, in addition to six Twenty20 matches. A highlight of these will be the clash against the ACT at Sydney Olympic Park, before the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues fixture against Queensland on Saturday 29th January, 2011.



Cricket NSW Chief Executive David Gilbert is delighted with the quality of cricket that awaits fans this summer: An Ashes Tour is always eagerly awaited and the New Year's Test match in Sydney promises to be a great end to the Series. On the domestic front, the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues will be looking to be very competitive in all three competitions, while a large number of our squad will also be pushing their claims for National selection. It promises to be a terrific season at all levels.


Visit www.cricketnsw.com for a full list of fixtures.

Media Contact :
Ros Pullen - Media & Marketing Officer - Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney - 9839 6595
Karla Wyatt - Promotions Assistant - Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney - 9839 6593