Cricket lights, a balmy Sydney evening and a packed Drummoyne Oval will set the stage tonight for one of the most important matches of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) season, not just for the ladder, but for saving lives on NSW roads.
With school holidays around the corner and thousands of families preparing to hit the road, the Minns Labor Government is using one of cricket's biggest rivalries to push an urgent message: the decisions you make on the road this summer could be the difference between life and death.
So far this year, 332 people have died on NSW roads, compared with 299 at the same time last year - 33 more lives lost, and countless families, friends and communities grieving loved ones.
As traffic surges toward beaches, regional holiday spots and festive gatherings, the Minns Government is pleading to all road users to do their part in stopping the devastating rise in fatalities.
Tonight's annual Road Safety Cup will see the Sydney Thunder take on the Brisbane Heat at Drummoyne Oval. The match will harness cricket's enormous reach to remind drivers that every choice matters.
Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison, will be on the field performing the pre-game bat-flip, sending the message that road safety is a top priority and that we all have a role to play in keeping our roads safe.
As a powerful symbol of the Towards Zero message, both Sydney Thunder captain Phoebe Litchfield and Brisbane Heat captain Georgia Redmayne will wear the number 0 on their kit, reflecting the Government's call for zero deaths and zero serious injuries on NSW roads.
The Road Safety Cup is built on a 23-year partnership between Transport for NSW and Cricket NSW. What began in 2002 has grown into one of the state's most recognisable and effective road safety platforms. Cricket reaches more than 2.7 million people in NSW each summer.
Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:
"Tonight's game is fun, fast and fierce, but the message behind it couldn't be more serious. Too many lives are being lost on our roads, and as more people travel for holidays, beaches and family gatherings, the risks only rise.
"The Road Safety Cup is a moment for everyone to stop and think: slow down, stay off your phone, drive to the conditions. We don't want any more families facing an empty seat at the table this Christmas."
Minister for Sport, Steve Kamper said:
"Cricket is the soundtrack of summer in NSW, and the WBBL delivers some of the best sporting theatre in the country. Using a marquee match like Thunder v Heat to drive home a life-saving message shows how sport and community can work together for something bigger than the scoreboard.
"We want fans to enjoy the rivalry and take the road safety message with them long after they leave the ground."
Sydney Thunder General Manager Trent Copeland said:
"Cricket NSW is proud to stand with Transport for NSW in promoting safer behaviour on our roads.
"The Road Safety Cup is a highlight of the season - fans love it, and it gives us an important platform to remind everyone that getting home safely is the most important result of all."
Match details
- WBBL Road Safety Cup - Sydney Thunder vs Brisbane Heat
- Wednesday, 3 December 2025
- Drummoyne Oval
- First ball: 7:10pm
