Sydney Sixers coach Greg Shipperd has raised significant questions about both the scheduling of the Big Bash League final and the umpires' decision to continue play through rain during his side's bowling innings, following their defeat to the Perth Scorchers.
Post-Match Press Conference Comments
Appearing at the Sixers' post-match press conference in place of a player, Shipperd began by acknowledging Perth's performance, stating his team had been comprehensively outplayed. However, his focus quickly shifted to the challenging travel schedule that saw the Sixers complete their regular season with a virtual elimination final in Brisbane before making two cross-country trips to Perth as part of three finals in just six days.
Shipperd emphasised that his team had no opportunity to train before the final, a situation he believes is uncommon at elite sporting levels. He confirmed the club would provide formal feedback to Cricket Australia regarding their itinerary.
Scheduling Concerns and Alternative Suggestions
"Some of the scheduling was not what we were looking for. We thought there perhaps could've been a day's space the first time we came here out of Brisbane," Shipperd explained.
He further noted that the Sixers appear to be the only team providing such feedback to Cricket Australia, questioning whether other teams were less proactive in this regard.
Shipperd suggested that playing the final on the following day, which coincided with the Australia Day public holiday, might have been preferable. "You can't knock the crowd here, awesome response from the people here," he said, acknowledging the strong attendance while proposing the alternative timing could have allowed his team better preparation.
Rain Interruption Controversy
The umpires' initial refusal to halt play as rain began during the fourth over of Perth's chase also drew criticism from Shipperd. Play was eventually briefly suspended at the five-over mark of the second innings, the point at which a match can be deemed complete if rain causes abandonment.
Shipperd argued this decision disadvantaged his side, particularly affecting their bowling strategy. "One of our plans was to change pace aggressively. Once the ball got slippery in the first eight overs, that made it difficult for our bowlers," he stated.
Potential Influence from Previous Matches
The coach speculated that the umpires may have been influenced by a benchmark set during Wednesday's knockout match between Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars, which was played in near-constant rain conditions.
"I think the umpires may have set a benchmark down in Hobart where they played through blinding rain and probably played that same card tonight," Shipperd remarked. He suggested that temporarily suspending play to allow conditions to settle could have been a more appropriate response.
These comments highlight ongoing discussions about scheduling logistics and match-day decisions in the Big Bash League, particularly during critical finals matches where competitive fairness is paramount.
