Could the Sydney Thunder strike twice in Canberra? Cricket ACT is keen to lure more Big Bash action to the Manuka Oval in the coming years to bolster Canberra's bid for its own licence.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Big Bash officials are reportedly considering a 16-game expansion next season, paving the way for Canberra to host multiple fixtures if the rapidly growing competition.
More games would be the perfect way to build momentum for Canberra's bid, led by multi-millionaire Mark McConnell, for a stand alone team when the league is ready to add a new team.
The ACT government and Thunder would need to agree to a deal and a price for the matches, but ticket sales for a game in January prove there is massive interest.
The Thunder will play the Melbourne Renegades in Canberra on January 24 in the first regular-season Big Bash game at Manuka Oval.
Tickets have all but sold out, with the Thunder releasing a handful of tickets for the game after the initial allocation was snapped up two months before the match.
"We fully support the Thunder and the game here next year is already sold out, we'd obviously love to see multiple games here in the future," said Cricket ACT boss Cameron French.
"Given how quickly the Thunder-Renegades match sold out, it shows there's a huge appetite for games being played in Canberra.
"They'll look really closely to where they allocate games to in consultation with Cricket Australia, but all the community in Canberra can do is just keep supporting whatever cricket is here.
"Whether that's international games or Big Bash, men's and women's, and if that happens [officials] will look at Canberra favourably."
The Canberra Big Bash bid has a long-term project, with the organisers taking an approach to have everything ready whenever organisers want to add a team.
The short-term goal is to build a Big Bash and international cricket audience to convince Cricket Australia to schedule more games in the capital.
Canberra will host its first Test during the 2018-19 summer when Australia plays against Sri Lanka.
Cricket Australia is yet to finalise the international schedule, but it is likely the game will be played in mid to late January.
There is also the prospect of making the Canberra clash a day-night Test, but that would also clash with the Big Bash broadcast deal.
The government has finalised plans for a new media centre at Manuka Oval, which was one of the requirements for the venue to host Test cricket.
"From a Cricket ACT perspective, we want to see as much content as possible here for the cricket community," French said.
"We would expect the Thunder and the government would have discussions when the time is right and if the Big Bash does go that way with expansion."
The Thunder started the Big Bash season with a thriller against rivals the Sydney Sixers on Tuesday night, ACT Comet Aiden Blizzard helping the Thunder snatch victory in the last over.
Blizzard hit a four off the third last ball before pinching a single and then completing the Arjun Nair's winning run off the last ball to seal a five-wicket win.
"It was brilliant for us to get a win, but I was just rapt for the way the tournament started," Blizzard said.
"I was itching to get out there. We've competed pretty well against the Sixers for the last three seasons so to get the boys over the line ... I was really excited."
Blizzard is one of eight current and former Comets players in the Big Bash this season, with Tom Rogers in contention to make his debut for the Hobart Hurricanes on Thursday night.
