Tasmania has stepped in to provide a haven for the first 20 games of the WBBL in the face of the COVID-19 outbreaks in Sydney and Melbourne, much as it did for the first week of the AFL finals.

Cricket Australia confirmed on Thursday morning that the tournament would begin on October 14, with matches to be shared between Bellerive Oval in Hobart and York Park and Invermay Park in Launceston.

The Sydney Sixers will take on the Melbourne Stars in the opening game of the tournament, in a prime time 7.40pm slot on a Thursday night.

Two other games, between the Adelaide Strikers and the Sydney Thunder and the Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades, will be broadcast in the evening with a 7.05pm start. The remaining games will be played during the day, starting no later than 5.15pm. The Seven network has committed to broadcasting 24 matches acoss the tournament and Foxtel 47, with all fixtures to be streamed on Kayo.

“This is fantastic news for Tasmanian cricket and we’re thrilled to be able to play our part in ensuring the season gets away,” the Cricket Tasmania chief executive Dominic Baker said.

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“Following on from us hosting the first of the BBL hubs last year, we know this is something we can do, and do well, and we know Tasmanian cricket fans can’t wait to come out and see some of the world’s best female cricketers in action.”

Changes to the schedule, CA stated, were forced “in response to public health conditions, state border restrictions and their related impacts”.

“We’d like to thank our fans across the country for their continued patience and understanding as we navigate the challenges of the pandemic,” CA’s head of Big Bash Leagues Alistair Dobson said.