Big Bash: Sydney Thunder captain Callum Ferguson says that he does not want to see the BBL final moved to another date despite concerns over the threat of heavy rain.

Heavy rain is threatening to disrupt Saturday’s Big Bash final, with up to 50mm of rain forecast in Sydney.

The Sydney Sixers could become the first team in BBL history win the annual competition by default, unless each side faces at least five overs in Saturday’s final.

Although the Melbourne Stars finished atop the BBL09 ladder, the Sixers would claim the title if rain intervened because they won last week’s “Qualifier” at the MCG.

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Multiple other cricket events organise additional days in case weather interfered — New Zealand qualified for last year’s World Cup Final in England after winning their semi-final against India during a reserve day.

However, unlike the Indian Premier League and upcoming T20 Cricket World Cup, no reserve days have been organised for the Big Bash Final, and an anti-climatic conclusion to the seven-week tournament looms as a strong possibility.

Why is there no reserve day for the BBL final? — Tim Michell (@tim_michell) February 4, 2020

There’s no reserve day for the Big Bash Final?? Bonkers. There’s a perfectly good Sunday arvo available — Dan Ginnane (@DanGinnane) February 5, 2020

For all Play off matches . Reserve day.. for sure. https://t.co/uy1dj8LQsg — Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) February 5, 2020

Cricket Australia rejected calls for the final to be moved to the MCG after the match was sold out within 48 hours of tickets going on sale.

The highly-anticipated “Bushfire Bash” — an exhibition charity match starring past legends of the game — will serve as a curtain-raiser for Saturday’s final, weather permitting.

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden — who will feature in the Bushfire Bash — criticised the absence of a reserve day.

“If you are going to play a two-month tournament, you’ve got every right as a fan to be disappointed should there be a rain out,” Hayden said.

“That (reserve day) should happen, no matter what I reckon.”

A cluster of current BBL players also expressed their disappointment in the event’s planning, including Test spinner Nathan Lyon.

“I dare say that would have been a good option but I don’t get paid to make the big decisions at Cricket Australia,” Lyon told AAP.

Sydney Thunder skipper Callum Ferguson declared, “There needs to be a reserve day,” while Stars tweaker Adam Zampa noted, “With the length of the Big Bash, it’s a bit disappointing there isn’t a spare day or two”.

Paceman Josh Hazlewood has starred for the Sixers since returning from Australia’s ODI tour of India, and admits the weather forecast has “worried” his teammates.

“The one thing we’re worried about is getting one of those five, six or seven-over games,” Hazlewood said on Tuesday.

“We either want it completely washed out or to get the full game in … I probably think second place would be more worried than us.”

The Big Bash was extended to 59 games as part of a $1.2 billion TV broadcast rights deal that still has four years to run.

If they win Thursday evening’s Qualifier, the Sydney Thunder will have played 18 matches in less than two months. In comparison, NRL clubs are required to take part in 24 fixtures over a six-month season.

BBL attendance dropped off significantly when school commenced in last January. Only 13,275 fans watched last Friday’s star-studded Qualifier at the MCG, which seats over 90,000.

Adelaide Oval hosted the must-win “Knockout” on Saturday evening, but a pitiful crowd of 15,995 witnessed the Strikers’ last match of the season.

Average attendance has dropped over 29% since the Big Bash was extended in 2018, according to Austadiums.

Hayden argued the competition should finish at the end of school holidays, but that would result in either a horrifically congested schedule or Sheffield Shield matches being pushed back into September.

“It does tend to lose a bit of interest when we come out of our Christmas slumber, to finish when a majority of people are still going to watch would be a good change,” Hayden said.

Stars skipper Glenn Maxwell agreed, claiming a 10-match regular season would be ideal for players and spectators. However, that isn’t possible under the current TV contract.

“I just think 14 games is just a little bit much. It just makes for a very long tournament … (10 games) was the perfect amount,” Maxwell told SEN.

Zampa echoed his captain’s concerns.

“It’s disappointing to turn up to a semi-final and only have 13,000 people,” Zampa said.

“The length of the Big Bash isn’t probably helping that, to be honest. Obviously kids are back at school and it’s a school night.”