Cricket: Future of interstate cricket in Bunbury in doubt

Bunbury's prospects of continuing to host top quality domestic cricket hinges on the number of non-televised fixtures scheduled each season by Cricket Australia, a WACA spokesman has confirmed.

Because Hands Oval does not have the facilities to accommodate live video broadcasts, it is competing against other regional centres for the few Ryobi One-Day Cup games not screened on pay TV network Fox Sports.

Despite trumpeting the success of fixturing games in Bunbury over the last three years, the first time domestic one-day matches have been played outside of Perth, the WACA has been non-committal about staging further cricket in the South West.

‘‘We have been thrilled with the response of the South West community to the staging of Retravision Warriors one-day matches in Bunbury over the past three years, along with the support of the Department of Sport and Recreation, the City of Bunbury and the South Bunbury Football Club,’’ a WACA spokesman said.

‘‘There are a number of factors that need to be considered when staging an interstate match away from the WACA Ground, in particular the number of non-televised matches scheduled by Cricket Australia each season, and all of these will be assessed in due course.’’

In 2009/2010 the match between WA and Victoria at Hands Oval was one of only five One-Day Cup games not shown on Fox Sports for the entire season. This summer the Warriors alone have hosted three untelevised encounters, including their recent clash in Bunbury against South Australia.

Since 2008/2009, the first season that a match was played at Hands Oval, Fox Sports has televised more than two thirds of all domestic one day fixtures.

The organisation has held the TV broadcast rights for domestic one-day games since the summer of 2006/2007.

‘‘We try to schedule as many Big Bash and Ryobi Cup matches for telecast on Fox Sports as possible,’’ CA Cricket Operations manager Geoff Allardice said.

‘‘This has resulted in some Ryobi Cup matches not being televised each season, and State Associations often elect to play these non-televised Ryobi Cup matches at rural venues, as has been the case at Bunbury over the past three seasons.

‘‘The number of non-televised matches varies from season to season. ‘‘

It is possible to broadcast matches from rural venues, but it is more difficult logistically, and more expensive than it is to broadcast the matches from the Test venues.

CA General Manager of Media Rights Stephanie Beltrame said improvements to make Hands Oval suitable for broadcast could cost the WACA more than $80,000.