Late summer in 1996 and I’m a university student, enjoying the last throes of my lazy life as a student. I’m sitting on the Adelaide Oval hill, watching Adam Gilchrist smacking an exhilarating century against South Australia in the Sheffield Shield final.
As exciting as that was, nothing could top the excitement I felt on the final day as South Australia (SA) clung on for a draw to clinch its first Sheffield Shield title in what seemed like an eon (it was 1981-82).
I was working at a restaurant, of sorts, at the time and I recall that I wouldn’t allow my bosses to open the kitchen until after the last fateful delivery, a big statement.
That was one of the most enjoyable shifts I ever completed at Fasta Pasta, Salisbury, knowing that SA had finally won the Shield.
Sadly, it was the only title joy the state experienced at any level of cricket since – that is until last Saturday night’s T20 Big Bash victory over New South Wales.
As I sat there, watching the concluding stages of this match, I felt only an inkling of the joy I had 15 years ago. It felt a little hollow. Good on you lads, I thought.
But I didn’t feel the same joy I did at SA winning the Shield. Sure I’m now older now, a lot more jaded and don’t have the time to invest in my state cricket side as I once did.
But I still have great affection for the South Australian cricket team.
Since its inception I have watched the growth of T20 with trepidation, worried about its impact on the longer version of the game. I find little energy for ODIs, they seem irrelevant since T20’s starburst.
But I’m still interested and love seeing the Red Caps out on the field when I can – despite some terrible performances in the intervening years. So, why did I feel only a small amount of joy at SA’s triumph? The Redbacks finally had some sting and something to sing about.
I think our captain, yes, another Victorian leading us to glory, ‘Max’ Klinger said it perfectly when he said, and I paraphrase, “this will be the last time this group of blokes play together”.
That was it, almost in a nutshell.
Next year, the team representing me will be a marketed outfit, forgoing all of the traditions of my South Australian heritage.
Don Bradman, Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell, Victor Richardson, Clem Hill and Clarrie Grimmett will never have represented this team that will be representing me. Neither will have David Hookes, Darren Lehmann, Peter Sleep or Ken Cunningham.
I won’t be alone in this feeling, as supporters across the nation will be facing this situation. Some may enjoy the new direction and, for the future of the game, I hope so.
I’ve only just become used to my team being called the Redbacks.
Having been privy to the 17 or so names that the marketers have thrown in the air, like so much confetti, for the Adelaide based team, I like the concept even less.
Will this team even wear red? How can it wear red, when the official side from this state also wears red?
Can you imagine a team representing the people of New South Wales not being called the Blues, or wearing sky blue? Or Victorians supporting a side not wearing the navy blue with that hated, if you’re not from the Garden State, Big V?
You can’t manufacture a tribal feel. You can’t manufacture tradition. However, that is what Cricket Australia is trying to do.
Like a luddite, I will return to my books by Cardus, Haigh and Robinson to reminisce, venturing out to watch Test cricket when I can next summer. I may even watch some ODIs, or venture the several hour drive to see South Australia play a game at the beautiful Adelaide Oval.
The Big Bash? Who knows… I’m sure I’ll get sucked into a social catch up with my mates. A few beers while a game of cricket is on the television.
But I won’t be there to watch the cricket. Sad, but true.
Tom Dimanis
Roar Pro
There are quite a few decent players in both of those scorecards, such a shame Australia doesn't have the luxury to pick a Test side from the state teams anymore. This Big Bash nonsense is just plain wrong.
Lolly
Guest
Look at the names in the match. We could only fantasize about having that quality of player in the Warriors now!
EvertonAndAustralia
Roar Pro
I'm a Bulls fan. I'm NOT looking forward to having to support the Brisbane plastics next season. Having said that, if it's on FTA I'd probably end up watching it.
Rob McLean
Guest
Just for information, and as suggested by Walt, here is the scorecard from the 1995/96 season final (courtesy of: http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/61/61981.html): South Australia v Western Australia Sheffield Shield 1995/96 (Final) Venue Adelaide Oval on 30th, 31st March, 1st, 2nd, 3rd April 1996 (5-day match) Balls per over 6 Toss Western Australia won the toss and decided to bat Result Match drawn Umpires DB Hair, SG Randell Close of play day 1 Western Australia (1) 255/6 (Gilchrist 25*, Angel 0*) Close of play day 2 South Australia (1) 100/2 (Nobes 57*, Lehmann 24*) Close of play day 3 South Australia (1) 330/7 (Brayshaw 70*, Gillespie 10*) Close of play day 4 South Australia (2) 53/2 (Blewett 22*, Gillespie 4*) Western Australia first innings Runs Balls Mins 4s 6s MP Lavender c Siddons b May 18 92 122 2 - MEK Hussey lbw b Blewett 11 52 74 - - JL Langer c Nielsen b Gillespie 30 63 70 3 - RM Baker c Nielsen b George 83 136 171 9 - *TM Moody b Gillespie 68 152 204 6 - DR Martyn run out (Lehmann->George) 9 15 20 1 - +AC Gilchrist not out 189 187 284 15 5 J Angel c Nielsen b Gillespie 7 21 36 - - GB Hogg lbw b George 61 118 163 6 - BP Julian c George b May 25 52 48 2 - SR Cary did not bat Extras (4 lb, 14 nb, 1 w) 19 Total (9 wickets, declared, 600 minutes, 146.4 overs) 520 Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Hussey), 2-55 (Lavender), 3-71 (Langer), 4-200 (Baker), 5-215 (Martyn), 6-251 (Moody), 7-291 (Angel), 8-459 (Hogg), 9-520 (Julian) South Australia bowling Overs Mdns Runs Wkts Wides No-Balls Gillespie 30 10 96 3 - 3 George 30 4 102 2 1 3 Blewett 15 4 53 1 - 1 May 47.4 9 157 2 - - McIntyre 23 0 105 0 - - Lehmann 1 0 3 0 - - South Australia first innings Runs Balls Mins 4s 6s GS Blewett lbw b Angel 5 12 10 1 - PC Nobes b Julian 103 260 323 16 - DS Webber c Langer b Angel 0 4 7 - - DS Lehmann c Langer b Angel 43 142 182 3 - *JD Siddons b Julian 38 130 133 3 1 JA Brayshaw run out (Hussey) 87 172 199 10 1 +TJ Nielsen c Langer b Julian 27 81 95 1 - TBA May c Lavender b Martyn 5 3 5 1 - JN Gillespie c Gilchrist b Julian 10 45 62 1 - PE McIntyre b Julian 0 3 2 - - SP George not out 0 13 20 - - Extras (3 b, 1 lb, 22 nb, 3 w) 29 Total (all out, 524 minutes, 142.1 overs) 347 Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Blewett), 2-8 (Webber), 3-131 (Lehmann), 4-208 (Siddons), 5-217 (Nobes), 6-291 (Nielsen), 7-296 (May), 8-331 (Gillespie), 9-331 (McIntyre), 10-347 (Brayshaw) Western Australia bowling Overs Mdns Runs Wkts Wides No-Balls Angel 17.5 4 56 3 - 1 Cary 16 6 29 0 - - Moody 27 10 45 0 - - Julian 30.2 7 95 5 - 9 Baker 8 5 9 0 - - Hogg 34 10 89 0 3 1 Langer 5 2 8 0 - - Martyn 4 1 12 1 - - Western Australia second innings Runs Balls Mins 4s 6s MP Lavender c Nobes b Gillespie 6 14 14 1 - DR Martyn run out (Blewett) 2 5 18 - - JL Langer c Lehmann b May 28 54 89 2 - +AC Gilchrist run out (Lehmann) 0 2 7 - - RM Baker c Nielsen b Gillespie 11 23 31 1 - *TM Moody c sub (BA Johnson) b Gillespie 72 130 149 4 - MEK Hussey c Nielsen b Gillespie 32 70 104 1 - BP Julian c May b George 2 3 8 - - GB Hogg not out 1 3 3 - - J Angel did not bat SR Cary did not bat Extras (5 lb, 10 nb) 15 Total (8 wickets, declared, 217 minutes, 49.5 overs) 169 Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Lavender), 2-12 (Martyn), 3-18 (Gilchrist), 4-36 (Baker), 5-64 (Langer), 6-165 (Moody), 7-167 (Hussey), 8-169 (Julian) South Australia bowling Overs Mdns Runs Wkts Wides No-Balls Gillespie 9 1 33 4 - 4 George 8.5 2 36 1 - - May 18 3 57 1 - 6 Blewett 6 1 16 0 - - McIntyre 8 1 22 0 - - South Australia second innings Runs Balls Mins 4s 6s GS Blewett lbw b Julian 72 275 320 6 - PC Nobes b Hogg 24 45 60 4 - DS Webber c Gilchrist b Baker 5 26 25 - - JN Gillespie c Moody b Julian 5 27 34 1 - DS Lehmann lbw b Julian 0 2 3 - - JA Brayshaw c and b Hogg 66 129 131 12 - *JD Siddons c Langer b Hogg 4 134 166 1 - +TJ Nielsen b Angel 4 16 19 1 - TBA May b Julian 0 52 64 - - PE McIntyre not out 6 45 59 1 - SP George not out 1 30 40 - - Extras (7 b, 13 nb, 1 w) 21 Total (9 wickets, 465 minutes, 129 overs) 208 Fall of wickets: 1-40 (Nobes), 2-53 (Webber), 3-67 (Gillespie), 4-67 (Lehmann), 5-169 (Brayshaw), 6-189 (Blewett), 7-193 (Nielsen), 8-198 (May), 9-202 (Siddons) Western Australia bowling Overs Mdns Runs Wkts Wides No-Balls Julian 29 13 56 4 1 4 Angel 19 7 27 1 - 1 Hogg 36 25 42 3 - - Baker 11 3 26 1 - - Moody 19 9 24 0 - - Martyn 7 5 6 0 - - Cary 8 4 20 0 - - Notes --> South Australia won on better record in qualifying --> RM Baker (1) passed his previous highest First-Class Matches score of 56 --> AC Gilchrist (1) passed his previous highest First-Class Matches score of 126 --> AC Gilchrist (1) passed 2000 runs in First-Class Matches when he reached 120 --> TM Moody (2) passed 15500 runs in First-Class Matches when he reached 38 --> JN Gillespie reached 50 wickets in First-Class Matches for the season when he dismissed TM Moody, his 3rd wicket in the Western Australia second innings 12th Men: BA Johnson (SA) and CE Coulson (WA)
GC Bulletin
Guest
Yep having manufactured teams for the new T20 comp definantly has a whiff of the ARC about it; should just promote the current big bash more and play games in regional areas (e.g. bulls playing in GC, T'ville, Vics playing at Geelong etc etc)
Walt
Guest
The most intriguing and exciting game of cricket I have ever seen. For those who dont know about the game, go check out the scorecard and you will be gobsmacked at some of the figures and players taking part. An absolute nail-biter to boot. Regarding the new comp, it is clear that CA wants to have multiple teams from the states. You cant have a NSW Blues and a NSW Blacks. As an Adelaide person, I implore CA NOT to use red for the Adelaide team. This was a big mistake by the AFL which leaves Port Adelaide still trying to establish its brand against a team wearing the State colours and calling itself "the pride of South Australia." Ditto the Victory in Melbourne using navy blue and the "Big V". If CA allows Adelaide to use red, it will be hard work to establish another rival team - even if there is the capacity for it.
formeropenside
Guest
I'm a Queenslander, and a Brisbane boy, but I have not much enthusiasm watching a Brisbane team in a city based comp, even though I assume they will largely be the Bulls in different clothes (and I have even less enthusiam for watching a bunch of overseas expats frock up in Brisbane colours).
Willy
Guest
Yeah, I agree Rob. I think the most disappointing thing is that Cricket Australia are basically telling long term cricket fans that they're no longer relevant and - even worse - that the game we love is no longer relevant. Apparently we're not as important as getting the kids into the grounds to watch the meaningless Big Bash circus. And we're certainly not as important as providing content for the paymasters as Fox Sports. I already look forward with trepidation to the announcement of the team names and colours, which are certain to be laughable.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Rob,well written. I don't mind Twenty20 but only as an afterthought., a throwaway line that is inconsequential and frivolous. if it secures a revenue stream that benefits grassroots,then good, If it is just so Fox gets cheap content then it makes no sense. Without the best players playing( and that won't happen next summer or in 2014 when england visit) it is not a "must see'