Chennai, Sept 18:
Perth Scorchers head coach Adam Voges is relishing the opportunity to open the new Big Bash League season in Chennai, describing the December 12 clash against Melbourne Renegades at the MA Chidambaram Stadium as a historic event. The fixture will mark the first time a BBL match is played outside Australia.
Voges returns to India 12 years after captaining the Perth Scorchers in the 2014 Champions League T20. Recalling that visit, he said he had been looking back at old scorecards and memories of the Scorchers’ previous trip to India. He said the team was excited to be part of a historic occasion and that preparations for the unusual start to the BBL campaign had already begun.
The former Australia cricketer said Perth would look to draw on players familiar with Indian conditions, with Mitchell Marsh and Cooper Connolly among those he hopes will be available. Ashton Turner and Jhye Richardson are also familiar with the conditions. Voges added that he would seek advice from local contacts, including former Chennai Super Kings batter Michael Hussey, particularly on factors such as weather, dew and match-day conditions.
Voges also drew parallels between the Scorchers and CSK, pointing to their strong home records and success in their respective leagues. He played down recent social media speculation linking him with the CSK coaching role, saying there had been no discussions. Voges, who has guided Perth to three BBL titles and Western Australia to three consecutive Sheffield Shield titles, now faces the challenge of preparing his side for a unique season opener in Chennai before returning to the contrasting conditions of Perth.