‘2023 made us see everything’ – Fans react with shock after BBL 2023 game between Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades gets called off due to unsafe pitch

The fourth game of the Big Bash League’s 2023 season between Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades was called off early on Sunday. The reason behind this move was due to the unsafe playing conditions that were seen at the Simmonds Stadium in Geelong.

The match lasted for just 6.5 overs before the match officials decided to call off the game. It is the first time that a game has been called off due to an unsafe pitch in Big Bash League history

Nic Maddinson the Melbourne Renegades skipper won the toss and chose to bowl first. Stephen Eskinazi was the first to be dismissed when he was out LBW to Tom Rogers. Perth Scorchers had lost their first wicket in just the second ball of the fourth BBL 2023 game on Sunday.

Bizarre turn of events in Geelong 

Once the replays came in it showed that the ball was missing the stumps. The batter had erred in not opting to use the DRS which would have seen him extend his stay at the crease. Veteran bowlers Peter Siddle and Tom Rogers then kept the Perth batters on a leash with some tight bowling.

The first four overs yielded just 13 runs with Aaron Hardie and Cooper Connolly finding it tough to score runs. Will Sutherland was introduced in the 5^th over and got the wicket of Connolly in the 3^rd ball of the over. Quinton De Kock completed an easy catch to give the Renegades their 2^nd wicket.

Aaron Hardie tried to increase the scoring rate by going after Mujeeb Ur Rahman. The final over of the power play saw 8 runs being scored. The ball by then had started behaving in erratic ways.

The 5^th ball of the seventh over from Will Sutherland saw the ball creep up and hit Hardie on his gloves. The batter went and spoke to the umpires and there was a massive deliberation. Once both the on-field umpires got together they decided to take the players off the field.

One of the biggest reasons for the pitch behaving erratically was a damp spot. Once the ball landed on the spot it was creating all sorts of problems for the batters. 20-minutes after the players walked off the field, the announcement to call-off the game was made.

Here’s how fans reacted –

A game in BBL called off due to damp pitch .

2023 made us see everything#BBL13

— anees ur rehman (@an33s) December 10, 2023

Hopefully the last couple of days shows Cricket Australia that they need to improve their covers at regional grounds. #BBL #BBL13 #BBL2023

— Craig M (@diminutiverowdy) December 10, 2023

https://twitter.com/jayskip8/status/1733770527175757933

Just a little bit in the pitch for the bowlers #BBL2023

— Adam Cornell 🔴⚫ (@MrCricketAust) December 10, 2023

https://twitter.com/richielew4120/status/1733763640694825121

Match between Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades has been abondoned due to dangerous pitch..
How rare it is, the match is called off because of unsafe pitch..#Melbourne #Perth#BBL
pic.twitter.com/PNohQy7X64

— Ѕααd (@SaadDogar77) December 10, 2023