“Interesting decision to play BBL at North Sydney Oval”: Ashleigh Gardner questions organizing a BBL game at North Sydney Oval due to smaller boundary size

North Sydney Oval got the opportunity to host its first-ever BBL match, but the rain had other plans. The match between Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat got abandoned after a cut-short 1st innings. This was the first and only game of the season at this very venue.

There was always a threat of rain in this match, the toss happened on time, but the start of the match got delayed due to heavy rain. Although, the rain stopped and it got reduced to a 13-over per side match. Brisbane Heat entertained the crowd and scored 147-6 in 13 overs. However, the rain came back again and no play was possible after it.

North Sydney Oval last hosted a men’s T20 way back in 2006, but it is a regular ground for the WBBL matches. The boundaries at this stadium are quite small, so this ground has not been termed fit to host men’s games. This is a multi-purpose venue and hosts many sports apart from cricket.

Ashleigh Gardner questions organizing a BBL game at North Sydney Oval

Australian women’s cricket team all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner has questioned the organization of a BBL match at the North Sydney Oval. She said that the dimensions of the stadium are so small that the fielders may have to stand on the road outside the stadium.

“Interesting decision to play BBL at North Sydney oval.. hope they’ve got fielders on the road outside and a pallet of new balls,” Ashleigh Gardner tweeted.

The boundaries at the North Sydney Stadium are very small in size, and the Brisbane Heat batters proved the same as well. Munro was hitting sixes for fun here even when he was not timing the ball that well. Michael Neser also took full advantage of the conditions here at the stadium.

North Sydney Oval is mainly used for hosting WBBL games only, and Gardner has certainly played a lot of games here. Gardner plays for Sydney Sixers in the WBBL, and she had a brilliant last season, where she scored 339 runs with the bat and scalped 23 wickets in bowling. The Sixers lost in the final against Adelaide Strikers.