With less than four weeks to go until the WBBL’s groundbreaking Stadium Series, the historic round was launched today at Adelaide Oval.
Adelaide Strikers captain Tahlia McGrath, Brisbane Heat player Georgia Redmayne, Katrine Hildyard MP and General Manager, Big Bash Leagues Alistair Dobson came together on Monday to celebrate the launch of the Stadium Series, where the world’s best cricketers will be in action in the world's best stadiums.
McGrath said the Strikers’ quickly pencilled the match in their calendars when the schedule was released.
“When the fixture came out and we saw we were playing at Adelaide Oval, everyone circled that fixture and we are really looking forward to getting the opportunity to play on, in my opinion, the best ground in the world,” McGrath said.
“You grow up as a kid and you’re watching people playing on Adelaide Oval and it’s what you dream of.
“You get excited thinking about the prospect of a big crowd – we’re pretty lucky that we get a really nice atmosphere at Karen Rolton Oval and we have loud supporters so hopefully that is just amplified here at Adelaide Oval.
“It’s a really great ground for cricket, it’s iconic and it’s always high scoring which is great for the fans.
“It’s going to be extra special running out onto Adelaide Oval with the Strikers.”
First Nations Round will also be celebrated at the Adelaide Oval match, where the Strikers and the Scorchers will play for the Aunty Faith Thomas Trophy, the first time the trophy has been played for since Aunty Faith passed away.
As part of the Stadium Series launch, the Strikers unveiled their new First Nations Round shirt that both the women’s and men’s team will wear this summer.
Designed by Steven Warrior, McGrath said the sides were proud to wear the shirt which is full of meaning.
“We’ve got the Indigenous guernsey on and it has turned out great, we think it looks awesome,” she said.
“There’s so much detail in this shirt that highlights so much – for example, we’ve got the meeting place of Adelaide Oval, represented with the first 11 Indigenous male cricketers to represent Australia.
“[One section] represents everyone’s individual journey to get through to cricket and then on the back we’ve got some words in native Kaurna language which represents our values.
“There is so much going on in this shirt and there is so much meaning behind it and we are really proud to wear it.”
The Stadium Series will get underway at the iconic Adelaide Oval on Friday, November 24 with the Adelaide Strikers hosting the Perth Scorchers under lights from 6:40pm. The Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder will also be in action earlier that day, facing off from 3:10pm.
Lock in your seat to support the Strikers in the Stadium Series! Buy your tickets here.
The Adelaide Strikers First Nations shirts are also available for purchase now.