There are ambitions to host Indoor Test cricket at a proposed new stadium in Hobart as part of the Tasmanian club joining the Australian Football League (AFL).
The Tasmania Devils will become the AFL’s 19th team in 2028 and part of the deal is based on the construction of a new stadium. It is marked as a 23,000-capacity venue at Macquarie Point with a transparent roof to allow for daytime cricket and floodlight T20.
“We want to reach the red ball [cricket]that’s what we’re focused on,” said Macquarie Point Development Corporation CEO Anne Beach SEN Tassie. “The tricky thing is…we can’t get approval until it’s built so what we need to do is continue to work on the details and the design process with Cricket. [Tasmania] and Cricket Australia and work with them to brief the ICC to ensure it has all the information available.
“We work with them on detailed design so we make sure we include everything they need, [so] they have a clear understanding of how it fits together and hopefully the exit process is much smoother. But we want to get that red ball signing and that’s important I think to allow the full content to be on the pitch. “
Concept designs for the Macquarie Point stadium were released earlier this week. Ball tracking data has been used to develop systems to ensure that the ceiling will be high enough for cricket.
“Cricket’s biggest concern was the height of the roof…they expressed concern about Marvel Stadium [in Melbourne] where the ball could hit the roof,” said Cox Architecture CEO Alistair Richardson.
“What we’ve done is we’ve worked with Hawk-Eye and ball tracking technology, to test the maximum height that anyone can hit the ball at, which is very exciting. “Then, basically, [we’ve] it pushed the ceiling to 50 metres, which cricket is happy about, because there is no example of anyone hitting the ball 50 metres.”
Experts say the design of the roof means there will be very little impact from shadows on the play area.
Marvel Stadium hosted indoor ODIs in the early 2000s and BBL matches can be played with the roof closed, but Test cricket has never taken place in a closed stadium.
“There is a great opportunity for Tasmania to be a leader in shaping the future of the game,” Boon said. “We want to play cricket at this stadium and we look forward to working with all the teams in the coming months as the design is finalised.”
AAP has contributed to this story
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