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Scott Bailey

Canberra, Gold Coast could host BBL finals matches

Sydney Thunder's Manuka Oval home ground in Canberra is in line to host a BBL finals match. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

Adelaide are set to be forced to take a Big Bash finals match to Canberra if they earn the right to a home final, due to venue availability during the Test summer.

A potential clash with Australia's home Tests against West Indies hovers over the BBL finals week, with red-ball matches scheduled for both Adelaide and Brisbane.

It means the Strikers would be unable to host a finals match in Adelaide if they were to finish first or third, and would instead play their qualifier or knockout at Manuka Oval.

Adelaide currently sit fourth on the ladder, and are every chance of contending for third spot.

Adelaide Oval would become available for the challenger on January 22 and final on January 24, if the Strikers qualify.

The first-placed Heat are the other club to be impacted.

Brisbane would still be able to play their home finals matches in southeast Queensland, with the 27,000-seat Heritage Bank Stadium available on the Gold Coast.

The Carrara Stadium would be used for any post-season matches the Heat earn the right to host, including the competition's final on January 24 with the Gabba Test starting the next day.

BBL fans at Manuka Oval.
BBL fans on the Gold Coast, and here in Canberra, could be in the stands watching finals matches. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

The BBL reverted to a top-four finals series this summer, with first and second place playing off for a right to host the final and third and fourth featuring in a sudden-death match.

Meanwhile, players union boss Todd Greenberg has said he would be open to the league playing on Christmas Day.

The NBL has found rating and attendance success by playing on December 25 in the past two seasons, while American sports have also thrived on the day.

The BBL moved further away from a Christmas Day fixture this summer, removing their Christmas Eve match in Hobart.

There is a feeling that a Christmas Night match would be a bigger ratings success, particularly in the form of local derbies to eliminate travel.

Sydney Sixers veteran Moises Henriques backed the call this week, but said the concern would largely be for support staff and other stadium officials and employees.

Melbourne Stars opener Tom Rogers has, however, summed up a greater reluctance, claiming his mother would not allow him out of the house to play.

The Australian Cricketers' Association has not surveyed players on the matter, but Greenberg said he would be open to the discussion.

"There will be people who don't want to play on Christmas Day, like there people who won't want to work on it," he told SEN.

"But I get a sense people are open to the conversation, and if you can explain the benefits ... then the conversation gets easier.

"The world evolves. If you had said 15 or 20 years ago, it would have been sacrilege to play on this day.

"But other sports and other models are making it work, so why wouldn't we open our eyes to it?"

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