Stormy Start Turns into Shortened BBL Season Opener at Optus Stadium
The Big Bash League season opener didn’t exactly begin the way fans had imagined, but after a tense wait and plenty of patience, cricket was finally given the green light at Optus Stadium. What was meant to be a full-scale clash between the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers was instead reshaped by nature, with lightning and heavy rain forcing a delayed and shortened contest.
About an hour before the scheduled start, spectators were asked to leave their seats and seek shelter as lightning strikes began hitting close to the stadium. Even at the original start time, the storm showed no signs of easing. Rain continued to fall, lightning remained visible, and the stadium lights flickered repeatedly as the electrical storm intensified. Under Cricket Australia’s strict safety regulations, play simply couldn’t begin while lightning was detected within 10 kilometres of the venue, and every strike meant another 30-minute delay was required.
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As the rain poured down, the impact on the ground became obvious. More than 15 millimetres of rain fell in just an hour, leaving large puddles across the Optus Stadium turf. Ground staff worked tirelessly, but it was clear that the match would need to be adjusted if it was going to go ahead at all.
Eventually, officials confirmed that play would start later in the evening, once conditions were deemed safe. The decision was made to reduce the season opener to an 11-overs-a-side match, with the first ball scheduled for 5.35pm local time, provided no further disruptions occurred. While not ideal, the announcement was welcomed by fans who had waited through the storm in hope of seeing some cricket.
At the toss, the Perth Scorchers won the bat flip and chose to bowl first. Sydney Sixers were dealt a couple of setbacks, with Jafer Chohan ruled out due to illness and Sean Abbott sidelined by a hamstring issue. However, there was still plenty of excitement, as Pakistan captain Babar Azam was set to make his much-anticipated BBL debut.
The Scorchers, meanwhile, were ready to unleash a powerful batting line-up later in the evening, featuring big names like Mitch Marsh, Finn Allen, Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie and Ashton Turner. Even with fewer overs, fireworks were expected.
In the end, the stormy start added an unexpected twist to the opening night of the BBL. While the weather had its say, the focus shifted back to the cricket, with fans relieved that the season had officially begun, even if in a shorter, sharper format.
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