Sydney Thunder recruit Alex Ross says Cricket Australia should consider the capital as an expansion destination for the Big Bash League if there's strong support at Manuka Oval.
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The Thunder are banking on a near full-house when they return to their adopted home to host the Adelaide Strikers on Saturday.
Tickets are selling fast, with the franchise on track to fill 10,000 seats at Manuka Oval and are offering a $5 discount for those bought in advance.
ACT Comets products Ross and Matt Gilkes are slated to return to the capital for the Thunder's first home game for the season as they look to continue their strong start to BBL09.
Ross is confident a strong turnout at Manuka Oval will put an earmark on Canberra as a ideal home for an expansion franchise.
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"If the competition keeps expanding, they definitely can do with a team," Ross said.
"Hopefully if we see a [good] crowd out and those sorts of numbers, that will excite people at Cricket Australia and hopefully there will be a team there in the future."
The Thunder hit full-capacity for their star-studded clash with the Hobart Hurricanes in February, proving Canberra to be an ideal destination for elite cricket.
The Western Sydney-based franchise will play two matches at Manuka Oval this season, with the Thunder returning to face defending BBL champions Melbourne Renegades on January 15.
"You can see us as your home team for the moment," Ross said.
"It would be good to see a lot of numbers at Manuka Oval, an old stomping ground for a few of us. I can't wait for that.
"I'm lucky enough to have spent time [in Canberra], there's a lot of other good players at the moment who have come from there too. It's a cricket production factory."
Ross had a stint in Canberra before heading to Adelaide and into the South Australia Redbacks system.
The 27-year-old batsman made his Big Bash debut with the Strikers in 2014, before heading to Queensland and continuing his domestic career at the Brisbane Heat.
The Thunder opened their 2019-20 campaign with a 29-run win over Brisbane, with Ross scoring 30 runs against his former side.
"It's a huge start for us to go away and play on a pretty intimidating ground and against an intimidating team," Ross said.
"To take a result like that is awesome. Inside our own walls, we know our processes and Shane Bond is extremely well planned and those plans are set out. We went about that and it will looked pretty easy.
"It's exciting [to play against Adelaide]. I love playing against all those guys and trying to get the upper hand is great."
BIG BASH LEAGUE
Saturday: Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers at Manuka Oval, 6.10pm
Lucie Bertoldo
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
