Spotless Stadium readied itself for cricket and the KFC T20 Big Bash when the first drop-in pitch was lowered into the ground yesterday.

The 35 tonne tray that has been filled with local soil and grass, entered the ground at 10-30 am yesterday for its final journey to the centre of Spotless Stadium, where it was lowered to create the first-ever cricket pitch at the ground.

The pitch is made of legend couch grass and will have plenty of time to bed down before being cut and rolled in preparation for the Thunder’s two home matches at the ground against the Hobart Hurricanes (Wednesday 7 January) and the Melbourne Stars (Saturday 17 January).

Sydney Thunder General Manager Nick Cummins is excited about cricket being played at the Stadium:
“By dropping the pitch in early the curator will have additional time to allow the surface to bed in and that will allow a good amount of cutting and rolling time before the first match against the Hobart Hurricanes here in January. At that time we are confident of having a true surface that will be fair for both batsmen and bowlers and allow for some exciting cricket, which is what the Big Bash is all about.”

Thunder Schedule

Sunday, 21 December 2014 – Brisbane Heat – Stadium Australia
Saturday, 27 December 2014 – Sydney Sixers – Stadium Australia
Tuesday, 30 December 2014 – Melbourne Renegades – Etihad Stadium
Thursday, 1 January 2015 – Perth Scorchers – The Furnace (WACA)
Wednesday, 7 January 2015 – Hobart Hurricanes – Spotless Stadium
Friday, 9 January 2015 – Sydney Sixers – SCG
Monday, 12 January 2015 – Adelaide Strikers – Adelaide Oval
Saturday, 17 January 2015 – Melbourne Stars – Spotless Stadium