After a Big Bash match between Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder on Thursday was abandoned due to a power outage causing floodlights to shut down, Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket have offered ticket-holders the chance to attend a day of the upcoming day-night Test at the Gabba against Sri Lanka for free.
The news will please over 26,000 fans who were left short-changed on Thursday night when the game was abandoned with the Heat sitting precariously at 10-2 after three overs, in chase of a target of 187 set by the Thunder after a masterful 100 off 62 balls by T20 stalwart Shane Watson.
Affected fans will be able to attend one day of the Test against Sri Lanka, which starts on January 24.
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A Shane Watson hundred was overshadowed by the subsequent abandonment[/caption]
“Under Cricket Australia’s established terms and conditions, the 23 overs of play including the full innings of the Thunder meant that refunds are not applicable in this instance,” said Anthony Everard, Cricket Australia’s Executive General Manager of Fan Engagement.
“However, the Heat and Cricket Australia would like to extend an offer to fans to attend next week’s day-night First Domain Test match between Australia and Sri Lanka at the Gabba for free.’’
While the decision to abandon the game will have been disappointing to fans present, none were more angered than the Sydney Thunder coach Shane Bond. Speaking after the game, he told reporters: “We think it’s safe enough to play. We said we’d bowl our spinners because we want a game of cricket – obviously we’re in a stronger position [than the Heat]. The umpires have said…we think it’s unsafe.”
Heat coach Daniel Vettori responded by saying “The umpires said the conditions aren’t good enough. That’s what we think as well.”
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Such is Sydney Thunder’s anger at having missed out on a potential victory, the team have appealed to Cricket Australia to be awarded the full two points for the victory, as opposed to the one point each team received for the abandonment.
In a statement released by the Thunder, general manager Lee Germon said: “With a large crowd at the Gabba and our fans watching at home we felt it was important to complete the game and to do so we offered to only bowl our spinners.
[breakout id=”1″][/breakout]“We believe the match officials were incorrect in giving teams the option to play and feel the match should have continued as we believe the conditions were safe.
“We believe that the venue has the responsibility to provide floodlighting for the match, including the provision of a back-up power source. We have therefore asked Cricket Australia to award Sydney Thunder the two points for a win.”
