Cricket Australia announces 2008-09 interstate cricket programs

Cricket Australia today announced the program for the 2008-09 Sheffield Shield presented by Weet-Bix, Ford Ranger Cup and Twenty20 Big Bash.

The season gets underway on Friday 10 October 2008 with XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls taking on the PKF Tasmanian Tigers at the Gabba in the opening match of the Sheffield Shield presented by Weet-Bix. The opening Ford Ranger Cup clash will be between the South Australia West End Redbacks and Victoria VB Bushrangers at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday 15 October.

The festive time between 26 December and 4 January is expected to feature big crowds at interstate cricket, with the scheduling of eight Twenty20 Big Bash matches during that holiday period.

The carnival-style atmosphere of the shortest form of the game will add a fantastic flavour to the warm and relaxed festive break.

Cricket Australia will also deliver interstate cricket to community venues with matches being hosted in Newcastle and Wollongong in New South Wales, Geelong in Victoria, Cairns in Queensland and Bunbury in Western Australia. It will be the first time ever an interstate match has been hosted outside of the WACA Ground in Western Australia.

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said: “We have made some slight tweaks to the interstate fixture this summer and believe that it provides fans around the country with excellent access to see fantastic cricket.

“We have added to the festive cricket flavour of Boxing Day by including the opener of the Twenty20 Big Bash at the Gabba that evening.

“This will be the dream day for Queensland cricket fans who, after having tuned-in to the coverage of the 3 mobile Boxing Day Test on the Nine Network, can then go to the Gabba that evening for the XXXX GOLD Bulls match against the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues,” Mr Sutherland said.

Fox Sports will again lead the television coverage of the Australian interstate season, with over 200 hours of live interstate cricket, including more than 70 hours in High Definition coverage, scheduled for fans. This includes 21 Ford Ranger Cup matches, 12 Twenty20 Big Bash games and the final of the Sheffield Shield presented by Weet-Bix.

“Fox Sports’ commitment to show a fantastic range of interstate cricket is great for cricket fans around the country,” Mr Sutherland said.

ABC local radio and ABC online will also continue its commitment to Australian cricket with regular coverage of all three interstate cricket competitions throughout the season.

The Women’s National Cricket League will have five rounds this season as well as five Twenty20™ fixtures. Four of the Twenty20™ fixtures will be played as double-headers to the men’s Twenty20 Big Bash matches. The Adelaide Oval will also host a day-night match between South Australia Scorpions and NSW Wolf Blass Breakers on 21 December.