The 2011/12 domestic cricket season will see Cricket Australia introduce its new city based Twenty20 league. Although announced, very little about the format of this league is known.
As Cricket Ausralia are searching for a window of time to play this new league talk has been about cutting down Australia’s premier competition the Sheffield Shield and taking away the Sheild final and award the Shield to the team that finishes top off the table. I think this will be a mistake.
The Sheffield Shield is where we develop our future Test players.
Less games for these players at the longer format would surely harm their development as Test players. Also, the Shield final is the closest thing young cricketers playing for their states will get to playing in a Test-match-like enviroment.
Do we really want to take away the chance for young players to gain valuable experience playing cricket in big games like the final?
Currently the final is being played between Tasmania and NSW. The experience and learning curve players like Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Stephen O’Keefe, Pat Cummins, Luke Butterworth and James Faulkner would be greater then any other Sheild match or even any Twenty20 league game.
Cricket Australia are currently under going a reveiw into our system in the hope of finding a way we can get our Test team back on top of the world ratings.
I would suggest that shortening the Sheffield Shield would harm the future of our Test team.
Brett McKay
Guest
you've beaten me Ben, Tas curently 2/74 on the Day 5: http://www.espncricinfo.com/ausdomestic-2010/engine/current/match/474050.html
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
Hi Guru - it's already a five-dayer each year.
gurudoright
Guest
Definitely kepp the Shield final. The only change I would make is to make it a 5 day final instead of 4. I realise the comp is a 4 day competition but for the final there should have a 5th day to try to achieve a result. I understand that a draw means the host wins the title but surely home ground advantage is enough advantage. 5 days means a better chance of the better team winning the final instead of the host defending, killing time for a draw
Harry the 1st
Guest
Strongly believe we ahve to keep the final. This is the first time this summer many of these guys have had to play in a hard attritional game. The benefits are substantial. More cricket like this is needed if Australia is to regain its position as the top cricketing nation.
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
On this one I think you might be right Brett - at least for 2011-12 summer :-)
Brett McKay
Guest
Wasn't it already annouced that the final will stay??
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
Hi Trev - totally agree. It's five-day cricket for those usually yet to play much of it! Keep it Cricket Australia!
Football United
Guest
first past the post is good for first class cricket. its ridiculous to have a final for any sport that goes for longer than a day.