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BBL11: Captain Ashton Turner says Perth Scorchers keeping open mind amid fixture uncertainty

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Jordan McArdleThe West Australian
Perth Scorchers captain Ashton Turner spoke to the media today.
Camera IconPerth Scorchers captain Ashton Turner spoke to the media today. Credit: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

New skipper Ashton Turner says the Perth Scorchers are keeping an “open mind” about the upcoming Big Bash tournament with so much uncertainty about the fixtures.

The Scorchers open their BBL11 campaign against Brisbane Heat at Optus Stadium on December 8, with one more home game scheduled for December 20 against Hobart.

Their only other confirmed game is at Sydney Showgrounds, against Adelaide Strikers on December 11, which was originally due to be held in Perth but has since been moved due to border restrictions.

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Turner, who was officially unveiled as Perth’s permanent captain on Wednesday, said last-minute fixture changes and long stints away was nothing new for the group who dealt with it last summer on the way to the BBL10 final.

“It’s something that we’ve had a bit of time to plan and prepare for,” Turner said.

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“It’s not new to us, we’ve been playing cricket under these conditions for an extended period now and I think that everyone is used to changing schedules and fixturing last minute.

“We feel as well prepared for the upcoming season as we can be.

“There’s still a little bit of uncertainty of where we’re going to play our games, but that’s OK.

“We feel like we’re able to be adaptable, we feel like we’ve got a squad who can play at home or play on the east coast.

“We’re also really fortunate to be able to have guys come from overseas and international players, we’re very thankful for their commitment to spend a long time away from their families.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 23: Ashton Turner of the Scorchers bats during the Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Stars and the Perth Scorchers at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on January 23, 2021, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Camera IconAshton Turner and the Perth Scorchers only have two home games locked in for this summer. Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“With the current climate and the way the world is at the moment, we’ve got a really open mind and we’re ready for any challenge.”

BBL boss Alistair Dobson remains “optimistic” that the first two Optus Stadium games won’t be the last for the tournament.

The Scorchers had a perfect 4-0 record at the venue last season which kickstarted their late charge to finals before falling at the last hurdle to champions Sydney Sixers.

“We’re certainly still optimistic. We’ve proven we can play games under strict quarantine conditions and do that in a way that has the health and safety of the public and all the players first and foremost,” Dobson told SportFM.

“We’ve got a good track record, we’ve got great relationships and trust, so we’re still optimistic of more games still getting to Perth over the rest of the season.”

Zoom meetings are a must with imports Laurie Evans and Colin Munro in Sydney and Australian representatives Mitch Marsh, Josh Inglis and Ashton Agar overseas and interstate until earlier this week.

T20 journeyman batter Evans and returning New Zealand hitter Munro won’t link up with the squad until just before game one.

Agar, Marsh and Inglis are likely to be available early in the tournament after they finish Australia ‘A’ duties, with Alex Carey firming for the Test wicket-keeping spot as Tim Paine’s successor.

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