The Cricket Australia CEO is glad to see games will return to Geelong during BBL|08 and WBBL|04
Sutherland welcomes Geelong return
Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland has welcomed the announcement of a return of BBL and WBBL cricket to Victorian city Geelong this summer.
It was announced on Friday that Geelong would again host BBL and WBBL games featuring the Melbourne Renegades this season, with two men's matches and three women's contests confirmed.
GMHBA Stadium will host two men's and women's double headers with the Renegades fixtured to take on the Strikers (BBL) and Hurricanes (WBBL) on January 3 and the Heat (BBL) and Sixers (WBBL) on January 13, while the Geelong Cricket Ground will be the venue for a standalone WBBL match between the Renegades and the Heat on December 16.
It will be the second straight season that Geelong has hosted BBL and WBBL cricket, after the Renegades met the Sixers at GMHBA Stadium earlier this year in front of almost 24,000 people during BBL|07.
Friday's announcement came on the back of an election commitment from Victoria premier Daniel Andrews to the Stage 5 redevelopment of GMHBA Stadium and Sutherland welcomed the news.
"Cricket Australia welcomes the Victorian Government’s commitment to undertake the Stage 5 redevelopment at GMHBA Stadium," Sutherland said.
"The commitment to deliver a regional cricket hub as part of the Stage 5 works, including an indoor training centre and other key facilities, is a great win for cricket in the Barwon region."
"The stadium has hosted many top-flight cricket fixtures over the past three summers, and remains an important venue for cricket. It also has an exciting role on the global stage as host of matches in the ICC World T20 in 2020."