An unsafe pitch at the GMHBA Stadium meant the Big Bash League fixture between the Melbourne Renegades and the Perth Scorchers had to be called off.

Concerns were raised before the toss after heavy overnight rain in Geelong had seeped under the covers, and although the umpires decided to start Melbourne's home opener, they accepted the conditions were too dangerous after only 41 deliveries.

Having been put into bat, defending champions the Scorchers had been reduced to 30 for two as the ball bounced unpredictably on a wet patch.

Former Australia captain Aaron Finch, playing for the Renegades, told Fox Cricket the ball had "taken big divots out of the wicket, gripped the seam and was just bouncing ridiculously".

In the seventh over, Josh Inglis was hit in the groin by one Will Sutherland delivery, then edged another before a full ball flew over his bat to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.

Standing umpire Ben Treloar added on Fox Cricket: "We wanted to give it every chance, that's why we started play. It looked all right on top and the first few overs, we were really quite hopeful with what we saw.

"But just at the end, that last one, that was enough for us to consider that dangerous. It was that last delivery, that was the one that got us to that dangerous position and the safety of the players is paramount."

In a statement, Cricket Australia said both teams would receive one point "unless the game can be rescheduled".

"CA will conduct a thorough review into the extremely frustrating circumstances that have resulted in the game being abandoned and a huge disappointment for fans and players," the statement said.