Manuka Oval gets BBL final

Cricket365
July 30, 2014

The Manuka Oval in Canberra will host the final of the 2014-15 edition of the Big Bash League – Australia's premier domestic Twenty20 competition.

The venue first hosted international cricket in March 1992, when South Africa beat Zimbabwe in the World Cup, while the Australians trumped the West Indies in a relatively one-side ODI here in February 2013.

"We have looked at a number of options for hosting the final of the Big Bash League, given the unique summer of international cricket that lies ahead and the significant demands that will place on venues around the country," said Cricket Australia's executive general manager of operations Mike McKenna.

"That consideration, combined with our efforts to further establish the BBL as a truly national competition, was part of our decision making. We think the concept of staging the final in the neutral territory of the nation's capital has merit.

"Manuka Oval has undergone significant work in recent times to upgrade facilities for fans. We think it can provide a great backdrop to the biggest match of the tournament while exposing a new market to the excitement of the league."

Previous BBL finals were hosted by the Western Australia Cricket Association Ground in Perth, but a significant makeover has seen the 13,000-strong Canberra venue preferred this year.

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen, meanwhile, has signed a two-year contract with the Melbourne Stars franchise. The Big Bash League will run from 18 December 2014 to 28 January 2015. The Stars' opening match will be against the Adelaide Strikers.