Today’s release of the domestic schedule for season 2012-13, will see the NSW SpeedBlitz Blues start their domestic campaign in mid-September due to the Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers competing in the Champions League in South Africa in October.
The early start to the season sees the NSW SpeedBlitz Blues and the Western Warriors play a Ryobi Cup match (16 September) and a BUPA Sheffield Shield fixture (18 – 21 September) in Perth, followed by a first home fixture for the NSW SpeedBlitz Blues when they take on Tasmania at Bankstown Oval commencing on Wednesday 26 September.
The side will then have an enforced fixture break of over a month as the Sixers travel to South Africa, before returning to action on Friday 2 November with an away BUPA Sheffield Shield match against Queensland.
In the BUPA Sheffield Shield, the NSW SpeedBlitz Blues will play three of its five home matches away from the SCG. In addition to the match at Bankstown Oval against Tasmania, the team will play Queensland at Manuka Oval, Canberra (27 November – 30 November), and Western Australia at Blacktown International Sportspark (24 January – 27 January).
In the Ryobi Cup, the SCG will play host to two home fixtures, while Manuka Oval and North Sydney have one match each.
Commenting on the home schedule, Cricket NSW Chief Executive David Gilbert said:
“The early start to the season has presented its issues and we thank the Bankstown DCC for making its ground available for our match against Tasmania. As well as our matches at the SCG, the SpeedBlitz Blues will again play Sheffield Shield and One Day matches in Canberra and we thank the ACT Government for its support in bringing these matches to the Nation’s Capital. We are also pleased to again take a Shield match to Blacktown International Sports Park after the success of the inaugural match at the venue in the 2010/11 season.”
The full NSW SpeedBlitz Blues fixture list can be downloaded here.
