Canberra smoke haze sees Manuka grounds staff put down tools

Canberra choked through the worst air quality of any city in the world on Thursday and the haze is expected to remain at hazardous levels as the city prepares to endure worsening conditions this weekend.

Ground staff are preparing for the Big Bash League's return to Manuka Oval, with Sydney Thunder set to host the Melbourne Renegades at the venue on January 15.

It comes just weeks after a smoke haze forced a match to be abandoned at the venue, leaving Sydney and the Adelaide Strikers to split points.

The air quality in Canberra has continued to deteriorate, with Cricket ACT boss James Allsopp demanding the venue's ground staff to put down their tools until conditions clear.

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"I told our ground staff at Manuka Oval that under no circumstances, whatsoever, are they to go outside on Thursday or Friday this week," Allsopp said.

"There's more important things at play at the moment than sport, unfortunately. It's terribly sad what's going on around us.

"The grounds team only need about a week to make sure the quality of the wicket is good and practice wickets are available.

"We'll reassess what the conditions will be like on Sunday and hopefully they'll be able to get outside on Monday to start preparations for the Big Bash game."

Cricket ACT are struggling to reschedule a round of the ACT Premier Competition's Twenty20 Cup which was cancelled last month due to the haze.

The smoke from the surrounding bushfires has also disrupted the ACT Meteors' training schedule as they prepare for the second leg of the Women's National Cricket League next week.

The WNCL club were forced to cancel training on Thursday, including sessions at Cricket ACT's indoor centre.

"The conditions haven't been safe enough to be training, it was just a precautionary thing," Allsopp said.

"They were able to train [on Friday] and will have another session when they arrive in Sydney on Sunday.

"They've only really missed one session which isn't great with the timing but all their preparation has been done over the past six months and they've played a lot of WBBL.

"They'll still be well prepared for when they play the NSW Breakers and Queensland Fire next week."

The Meteors made a donation of bottled water, sunscreen and other basic needs to those affected by the South Coast bushfires this week.

Tuggeranong Valley Cricket Club has organised a bushfire crisis drive and will take donations for the Rural Fire Service on Sunday.

The club has asked for items including water bottles, muesli bars, jelly cups, lip balm, moisturiser, baby wipes, juice boxes and hydralyte, which will be collected at the Tuggeranong Vikings Clubhouse in Chisholm.

"Sport has the capacity to unite and inspire people. A part of bringing people together is supporting people in times of need," Allsopp said.

"The Tuggeranong cricket club in particular have a number of people who come from the far south coast whose properties and lives have been torn apart from whats happening.

"What they've done with the drive as well as what the Meteors squad have done in terms of going out, purchasing water and providing basic needs for people in the South Coast is a real credit to the club and the cricket community.

"At the end of the day, sport is sport - I know it's a cliche but it is just a game. When people's lives and livelihoods are at risk, if sport can support in some capacity then I think we have that responsibility.

"Hopefully the conditions will get better and bring joy back to people's lives."

WNCL ROUND THREE

Monday: NSW Breakers v ACT Meteors at Hurstville Oval, 10am.

Tuesday: ACT Meteors v Queensland Fire at Blacktown International Sportspark, 10am.