Scorchers hit the road after matches moved from Perth

The Perth Scorchers will spend the rest of the KFC BBL season on the road with their five remaining home matches at Optus Stadium moved interstate due to Western Australia's hardline border restrictions.

The Scorchers' December 20 clash with Hobart Hurricanes has been relocated to Blundstone Arena, following a tightening of WA's restrictions that will see New South Wales return to being an "extreme risk" zone from Saturday.

Both the Hurricanes and Scorchers have recently been in Sydney, and once the new restrictions come into effect on December 18, they would not be permitted to enter WA.

Victoria is already deemed an "extreme risk" zone by WA officials.

All teams would have travelled through one or both states in the 14 days preceding matches previously scheduled to be held in Perth, and thus would not be permitted to enter WA.

"We have worked tirelessly over the past few months to secure as many BBL matches as possible," WA Cricket chief executive Christina Matthews said.

"Unfortunately, the border restrictions and the league's inability to change fixtures has meant we have had to relocate our home matches to continue our season."

Perth's upcoming matches against the Melbourne Renegades (December 26) and Melbourne Stars (December 30) will be moved to Marvel Stadium.

Back-to-back matches against the Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers on January 5 and 6 will also be moved to yet-to-be-confirmed venues.

The Scorchers appear likely to be locked out of Western Australia until the state's hard border is removed. That is currently scheduled for February 5, one week after the BBL|11 final is held on January 28.

"We understand this is a disappointing decision for the Scorchers’ passionate fanbase, but in the current environment we want to provide certainty for members, fans, players, match officials and staff," Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, said.

"While our preference was to play these matches in Perth, this was simply not possible under the current arrangements when all factors are taken into account."

The fifth Vodafone Ashes Test has already been moved from Perth to Hobart and an ODI between Australia and New Zealand scheduled for Perth on January 30 remains in doubt.

The border restrictions are also impacting Western Australia's women's side. The women's domestic 50-over season begins on Friday, but WA's opening matches have been postponed with their opponents South Australia unable to enter the state without quarantine.

They are next due to meet Tasmania in Hobart on January 9 and 11 but it seems unlikely those matches will proceed as planned; Tasmania opened its borders to the rest of Australia last Wednesday and have since recorded a positive COVID-19 case.

Should those games also be postponed, Western Australia will not be able to start their WNCL campaign until February 14, when they are due to host Victoria at the WACA Ground.

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