International Cricket Back At Bellerive

Test cricket will return to Tasmania for the first time in over five years this summer, when Australia host Afghanistan at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena in a one-off Test match from November 27 to December 1.

The Australian men will also host New Zealand in a One Day International fixture at the same venue on February 2.

Bellerive will not only play host to Australia’s first ever Test match against one of the world’s most exciting up-and-coming cricket nations, but it will also give Australian Test captain, Tim Paine, an opportunity to finally lead his country in front of a home crowd.

The Lauderdale product grew up just 12 kilometres from the oval, and whilst Paine has worn Australian colours in tour matches previously held at Bellerive, this will be the first time he has the opportunity to don the baggy green at home. He will also be the first Tasmanian to lead Australia at the ground since Ricky Ponting in 2010.

In that January 2010 Test match against Pakistan, Ponting went on to make a combined total of 298 runs – including a first-innings double century – leading his side to a 231-run win, and earning himself well-earned Player of the Match honours, something Paine would dream to emulate.

“I think when my career is done and dusted, I think this is going to be a moment that I hold right up there,” said Paine about the opportunity to lead Australia on his home ground.

“I remember sitting on the hill when I was a young kid and seeing Boonie and seeing Ricky Ponting and I think that’s where you inspire young kids. “

“We haven’t got any red ball cricket in the lead up to the ashes, except for that test match,” he said. “So from my point of view, from a preparation point of view, it’s going to be a really important test match to set us up for the Ashes. And, you know, Afghanistan, they’ve got some highly talented spinners in particular, which will create a real challenge.”

Paine said he was hoping that promotion of the Test would encourage Tasmanians to get behind the one-off Test in November.

“I think it’s going to be exciting Test match. Afghanistan, highly talented, they play a style of cricket that you want to watch, they’ll take the game on now. They’ll come down here trying to try to beat us. And I think you know, some of the names in our team speak for themselves, you don’t get the opportunity to come and watch Steve Smith or Patrick Cummins, who are the best players in the world,every day of the week. And we’re going to have them right here in our backyard. So I hope Tasmanian people all over the state, buy tickets and come down. It’s important.”

International Cricket Back at Bellerive 4
Cricket Tasmania Chairman, Andrew Gaggin, said it was exciting to have top-level international cricket content returning to Tasmania.

“It’s fantastic that the Tasmanian public will have the opportunity to celebrate Tim Paine leading Australia in a Test match so close to where he grew up … it doesn’t get much bigger than that for me.”

“This is a historic test. So in 30 years time, potentially, when Afghanistan is number one in the world, you can say I went to the first ever Test that they played against Australia. Secondly, Test cricket has come back. So we do need to support it.”

He noted that CT still hope to have regular Tests here, with the average over the last 30 years being about two Tests every five years. “We’d like to make that three or four every five years, but it depends on the schedule,” he said. “If there’s only four tests, or five Tests played in Australia, in a summer, it’s very hard. We’re competing against venues that hold in excess of 50,000 people. So the economics weigh up in many cases for those games to be played in bigger venues.”

Meanwhile, Cricket Tasmania Chief Executive, Dominic Baker, added that Cricket Tasmania had been working closely with both Cricket Australia and the state government to ensure that any international cricket held in the state could proceed safely.

“I want to commend the Tasmanian Government for their commitment to top-flight international sport being played in Tasmania, but highlight that we have a lot of work still to be do with Public Health to finalise arrangements. It goes without saying that Tasmania’s health and safety is the number one priority for us as we plan for a huge summer ahead.

“Like all sports we have learnt to be increasingly agile as situations and circumstances change, and although the season is still a fair way off it’ll be here before we know it. My team will be working hand in glove with government officials to ensure the summer goes off without a hitch.

“Cricket is embedded in Australian sporting psyche, and I’m proud that we’re able to bring this level of content back to Tasmania.”

Cricket Australia Interim Chief Executive Nick Hockley said it was a ‘jam packed summer’ of cricket action.

“I think back to last conversation with Rashid Khan, who shared that, you know, there’s often not too much to smile about but the one thing that brings a universal smile to people’s faces in Afghanistan is cricket,” he said. “There’s just such a fantastic passionate Afghani community in Australia and I know many of them will be coming down here to to Tasmania to watch their team in action.”

Tickets for the 2021-22 international summer of cricket will go on sale from Wednesday 16 June, while Cricket Tasmania members will have the opportunity to secure the best seats in the house from Thursday 1 July, when Cricket Tasmania memberships become go on sale for purchase and renewal.

2021-22 International Cricket in Tasmania

Australia v Afghanistan men’s test cricket
Saturday 27 November to Wednesday 1 December

Australia v New Zealand men’s ODI series
Wednesday 2 February (day-night)