CA CEO James Sutherland Backs Cricket ACT's Women's Ashes Plan

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland has "thrown his weight behind Cricket ACT's bold push" to sell out Manuka Oval for a potential women's Ashes decider, according to Caden Helmers of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Sutherland said that CA would not be scheduling games in Canberra if it did not think a "packed house" was "well and truly a possibility." Manuka Oval will play host to two women's Ashes Twenty20 matches in November that will kick off a "huge summer of cricket in the capital." A "packed house" would make Canberra set the benchmark for supporting women's cricket and "fuel desires for a permanent Big Bash League presence at Manuka Oval." But adding more teams to the BBL is "a few seasons away at least," with Sutherland indicating expansion plans "revolve around more games rather than franchises" (SMH, 9/15).