Last week I attended the Victoria-Tasmania Sheffield Shield game at the MCG. While the cricket itself was of a high standard, the lack of atmosphere and the number of people attending Shield games must be a major cause of concern to Cricket Australia.
Maybe it’s time the Sheffield Shield home and away matches were played in regional and country areas and not the capital cities on a more regular basis – places such as Bendigo, Lavington, Cairns, and Bunbury.
The only time where the Sheffield Shield game would be played in the capital cities is if the team that finished on top of the ladder at the end of the regular season get the rights to host the final.
The other idea that could also improve the Sheffield Shield is to make all Shield games five day games, not just the final, so as to allow more results and also to help players get themselves ready for the rigours of Test cricket, if they are selected to play for Australia.
Otherwise the Sheffield Shield will continue to be a major drain on the finances of Cricket Australia. And that can’t be good for cricket in this country.
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