The Big Bash summer of cricket will sizzle in the City of Latrobe with the Melbourne Stars to make their WBBL debut at Moe’s Ted Summerton Oval on October 23 and 24.

The Andrews Labor Government has secured the festival of cricket featuring the Melbourne Stars, Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes in four matches as part of a wider push to bring WBBL and BBL to regional Victoria.

Four WBBL matches have also been secured for Ballarat’s Eastern Oval (13-14 Nov 2021), with two Renegades BBL matches set for GMHBA Stadium in Geelong (6-11 January 2022).

With previous BBL fixtures at Ted Summerton Oval proving to be a hit with fans, the games signal the debut of WBBL in the region.

The Stars, featuring home-grown Latrobe Valley product Nicole Faltum, will face the Brisbane Heat with the Adelaide Strikers taking on the Hobart Hurricanes on the Saturday, with the Stars then facing the Hurricanes and the Strikers playing Heat on the Sunday.

A $3.5 million investment in transforming the Ted Summerton Oval into a cricket centre of excellence has played a big part in helping to secure these elite games for Moe.

The elite cricket coup will deliver a festival atmosphere to Moe and the greater Gippsland region, providing opportunities for locals to meet and learn from WBBL stars at school-holiday clinics, family days and on match days.

All games will be broadcast on Kayo and livestreamed via the Cricket Australia website.

The WBBL and BBL regional fixtures were secured through the Labor Government’s Significant Sporting Events Program and Regional Events Fund.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing:

“Ted Summerton’s upgraded facilities and oval are the perfect venue for locals and visitors to watch big names like home-grown hero Nicole Faltum – what better way to inspire our next generation of WBBL stars as our investment in first-rate events and competition for the Valley continues.”

“This is a great result for local sports enthusiasts, and visitors drawn by these elite fixtures will pump valuable money into our local economy – supporting businesses and jobs.”