In some fantastic news for cricket, fans will be allowed to enter the stadiums for the first time since the COVID pause. On Monday, Cricket Australia confirmed that the upcoming series between Australia and New Zealand Women will see the return of spectators in a first since the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
Cricket Australia stated, “A limited number of fans will be admitted to Allan Border Field, with the maximum attendance determined by current Queensland health and government guidelines which cap the attendance at 50 percent of the venue’s capacity.”
In a first since the outbreak of novel #coronavirus, the upcoming limited-overs series between Australia Women and New Zealand Women will be played in the presence of fans inside the stadium.
3 ODIs and 3 T20Is to be played at Brisbane starting 26th Sept. #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/YgOnxAa4cL
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) September 14, 2020
The upcoming series will kick off later this month on the 26th and will feature 3 ODI’s and 3T20I’s. Cricket Australia also laid down several guidelines to be implemented for a safe return of fans to the stadiums. This includes a cap of 6 tickets per customer, and tickets can only be purchased online. To safeguard against unfortunate cases of COVID-19 infection, CA will store all the customers’ details for purposes of contact-tracing.
Their statement on cricket.com.au added, “The ground will be split into six zones with fans only allowed to sit in the section specified on their ticket.”
The last cricket match witnessed by spectators took place Down Under when a record for the highest attendance in women’s cricket was made. 86,000+ people witnessed the T20 WC Finals between Australia and India, where the home team emerged victorious over the girls in blue. The return of fans in cricket will take place 6 months later from the day, down under in Brisbane.
Australia: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (VC), Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry*, Megan Schutt, Molly Strano, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Belinda Vakarewa *subject to fitness.
New Zealand: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Natalie Dodd, Deanna Doughty, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Holly Huddleston, Hayley Jenson, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Hannah Rowe, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu, Jess Watkin
Here’s hoping for an exciting and safe return for cricket’s 12th man – the fans!
Your average cricket enthusiast. Loves to write about what he loves to watch.