Big Bash game called off due to smoke and air quality concerns

Adelaide Strikers were taking on Sydney Thunder when the haze caused by bushfires in the region came over the ground

The Big Bash game between Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers has been abandoned due to a smoke haze and poor air quality at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.

Smoke from bushfires in eastern Australia had initially put the game in some doubt out of concern for players and fans.

However, the first innings of the match passed without significant incident, with Jason Gillespie’s Adelaide side making 161 for 5. Yet, 4.2 overs into Thunder’s reply, umpires Paul Wilson and Sam Nogajski came together and made the decision to take the players from the field, with the smoke levels increasing.

Wilson told Fox Cricket: “It’s about air quality. We would not have started (the match) like this.”

Nogajski added that the call had also been impacted by worsening visibility.

With conditions not improving by 9.14pm (AEDT) - the latest possible start time, the game was called off, with an official statement citing “unsafe playing conditions”.

Almost 100 fires were burning across New South Wales on Saturday. In recent weeks, a number of youth team fixtures have been postponed across the region because of the effects of the bushfires, which have affected almost three million acres of bushland and more than 700 homes.

The Big Bash statement added: “The league and all clubs wish to reiterate that our thoughts and best wishes are with the people and communities affected by the current bushfire emergency.”

Thunder captain Callum Ferguson was left frustrated by the decision; last year, his side was denied a chance of victory against Brisbane Heat by floodlight failure at the Gabba.

“He’s just annoyed, as you could imagine,” Thunder coach Shane Bond said of Ferguson. “It’s obvious. We’ve got four balls to finish the game and were hoping to get the game done. I absolutely understand the air quality is poor. We just have to suck it up.”

^{One spectator wears a mask to protect herself from the smoke}

After New South Wales beat Queensland in a Sheffield Shield game in Sydney earlier in December, spinner Stephen O’Keefe called on Cricket Australia to take action, with the air in the city testing at 11 times the values typically considered to be “hazardous”.

“The one thing they need to look at is the air quality policy. That was shocking,” O'Keefe told the Sydney Morning Herald at the time.

“I don't have kids, but if I did they'd be locked up inside, and if I was at home I wouldn't be training or playing in it.

“The doctor was all over it and speaking to us about it, and the fact the game wasn't going to go all day was considered, but in the future they need to look at it because it's not healthy – it's toxic.”

Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon previously said: “Cricket NSW strongly advises all junior and senior competitions across NSW that are affected by smoke and poor air quality to give serious consideration to cancelling this weekend's games.

“Our number one concern is the health of our players and officials involved in cricket.

“We appreciate this may mean some finals are not played and players may be disappointed, however the welfare of our cricket communities is our number one priority.”

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