Chief Minister Andrew Barr has labelled the installation of lights at Manuka Oval almost a decade ago as one of the "Best decisions I've made in my time in politics" after Canberra's incredible summer of cricket came to an end.
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But Mr Barr has confirmed that despite a recent Cricket Australia statement thanking Canberra for its efforts this season, and promising more of the sport at Manuka Oval next summer, nothing had yet been signed off on for 2021/22.
The ACT government and Cricket Australia were on the verge of signing a deal more than 12 months ago which would have locked in internationals and Big Bash fixtures for the next six years, but that contract was shelved amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is understood that deal would have included a mix of one-day and T20 internationals over the course of the six years, along with multiple Big Bash fixtures.
No progress has been made on reigniting that deal, but Canberra's position to host more elite cricket in the future has only strengthened after Manuka Oval handled 15 matches in two months this summer - the majority of which came at short notice.
Midway through 2020 there was no elite cricket scheduled in Canberra this summer, but with COVID-19 running rampant in Victoria for long periods last year, Cricket Australia revamped its entire schedule.
Canberra benefited, handed two short-form internationals against India, and six Big Bash fixtures throughout December.
As the COVID-19 pandemic flared up in Sydney over the festive period, the ACT became a safe haven for Cricket Australia and a solution to the continual staging of the BBL competition.
It marked the biggest summer of cricket ever in the capital, but that would never have been possible were it not for the installation of lights at the facility in the summer of 2012-13, which had been long lobbied for by former Cricket ACT chair Ian McNamee. Mr Barr was Deputy Chief Minister, and Sports Minister at the time.
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"I'm reflecting upon what an excellent decision it was to put lights in at Manuka Oval and to invest in the facilities because if that hadn't have been there then we would not have been in a position to host any of this," Mr Barr said after pledging $1.25m on Friday to upgrade Canberra sport facilities.
"It's absolutely proved Manuka Oval is a world-class cricket venue. And so one of the best decisions I've made in my time in politics is to invest in that venue."
Mr Barr was confident Canberra's efforts this summer would hold it in good stead for future cricket content.
"We've got the facilities, we have a proven track record, Manuka Oval can hold a lot of cricket in a short period of time," Mr Barr said.
"[We have] every reason to be confident about that in the future."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
