The World Cup has forced state sides to take Sheffield Shield games away from unavailable Test venues, and the reception to these matches could revitalise the practice of taking Shield matches away from the state capitals to smaller grounds around the country.
Over the next three rounds of Shield cricket matches that would have been played in usual Test venues will be hosted instead by Wagga Wagga, Newcastle, and Bankstown (NSW), Alice Springs (Northern Territory), Glenelg (South Australia), and Allan Border Field in Brisbane.
Robertson Oval in Wagga and Traeger Park in Alice Springs will each host their first-ever Sheffield Shield games, while the other grounds welcome back first-class cricket to their pitches.
While New South Wales are taking their matches far and wide across the state, playing their remaining three home matches in Wagga, Newcastle and Bankstown respectively, other states are choosing smaller venues much closer to home. South Australia and Queensland are temporarily relocating less than 15 kilometres down the road to Glenelg and Albion respectively, while Tasmania and Western Australia aren’t moving at all.
Victoria however, are going even further, taking their home games interstate due to a total absence of first-class grounds. They will take two matches to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory and the other, a fixture against South Australia, to Glenelg.
So why is this such a good result for fans?
Watching a Shield match at the ‘Gabba can be a demoralising experience. It must be the same for the players, playing in cavernous concrete amphitheatres, with the clapping of fewer than 100 people echoing hollowly around the vacant stands.
Allan Border Field, on the other hand, is one of the finest grounds in the country. A wide, expansive field with grassy banks and small grandstands surrounded by a white picket fence is a much more pleasurable location to spend a summer afternoon watching cricket than an empty, soulless football stadium.
And this is a characteristic that each of the grounds mentioned above share. All relatively small, with large grassy areas surrounding the playing area, this is the perfect environment for the smaller crowds typical at Shield matches to enjoy watching top cricket.
In the English county game, the practice of taking of County Championship (first class) matches to ‘festival grounds’, away from usual home grounds, has been common for over a century. Some counties are scaling back their festival obligations for financial reasons – but plenty of other counties still accommodate ‘festival weeks’ into their schedule.
In the recently announced 2015 County Championship fixtures, the 18 counties will play at 32 different venues throughout the year, with 10 counties playing at least one first-class game at an ‘outground’.
Despite the logistical challenges and costs associated with moving the circus to all corners of the country, the festivals are hugely popular, attracting larger-than-normal crowds. Essex cricket fans protested vehemently when the 2012 Southend Festival was cancelled, bringing a temporary end to 105 years of first-class cricket in the town, illustrating the depth of feeling around these festivals in English cricket.
It should be noted that one reason these festivals exist in England is to accommodate the ever-growing international fixture list among the crowded English domestic calendar – a problem Australia doesn’t have due to the relatively small number of games state sides play.
Despite not sharing the ground problem prevalent in England, why can’t Australian state sides take cricket to their fans more often? Each state covers such a vast area, surely it makes sense to spread the games around a little to include the fans across the states? Country regions in Australia are desperately deprived in terms of their exposure to high-end live sport, and this offers a rare opportunity for fans to witness top players in their own backyard.
By taking Shield games to country towns, state sides are servicing a much broader range of fans than just the state capitals. Perhaps in future seasons Queensland could take matches to Townsville or Cairns? Could Ballarat, Bendigo or Geelong host Victorian games?
By moving to smaller grounds, even if the actual number of spectators doesn’t increase (although evidence from the UK suggests that it probably will), the atmosphere will drastically improve, making for a better viewing experience for all concerned.
And I’m struggling to see a downside with that.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
Ye, I can see it being of tremendous benefit to the AFL if Cricket Victoria were able to get out of the MCG a couple of weeks earlier than they currently do.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
I believe Junction Oval still meets ListA requirements, and its not that long ago a non-FC tour game was held there. As far as I am aware it is still fine for anything short of CA's First Class requirements. The AFL want to get cricket moved there in order to pressure the MCC to get hold of the MCG earlier in the year. And St Kilda seem to want to piggy-back on a Junction Oval deal to move back into the suburb they originated from.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
I think you are right about the Junction Oval being unsuitable. When I ws researching this article I found an article on cricinfo whereby Warne is pleading for funds to revitalise the ground bcause it is dilapidated and has fallen into a state of disrepair - unsuitable for first class cricket. http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/701883.html However, I also saw articles suggesting that a deal had been done to turn it into a cricket only venue for first class cricket worth $25million... http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/cricket-to-return-to-junction-oval-in-25m-scheme/story-fni0fit3-1227166001719 And that AFL wanted some of the action too... http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/st-kilda-and-afl-havent-given-up-on-junction-oval-plan-20141225-12don7.html So who knows. I saw the UAE and Afghanistan played a World Cup qualifier there today, Afghanistan winning by 14 runs... So it can't be that bad.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
I believe it is a Cricket Australia thing. Many of grounds unsuitable for First Class cricket were (and are in the few states which get homst them) deemed suitable for ListA games. I believe that grounds such as Punt Road and Junction Oval mentioned below do not meet the practice facility requirements of a First Class venue in Australia. They don't have the required level of net (outdoor and indoor) facilities and perhaps a fewother little bits and pieces. But moving games just across the car park or down the road is not enough for me. I believe the games should be outside the capital entirely to get a different prospective audience. I guess with Punt Road the argument could be made that its close enough to the MCG that the nets there cover that point.
Ozzie Bob
Guest
I know in the past that Victoria have played games at Melbourne's Punt Road/Junction Oval. Surely this is still an option as a first class ground???? It seems to me that only NSW and Queensland have the options outside of the capital cities to play games elsewhere. I am surprised that WA don't play the odd game in Darwin though. Could be an additional catchment area for them?????
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
Agreed Timmuh, Having Shield sides, most of which include at least one of two former Test players and potential Test players, would be a massive draw in areas that are woefully deprived of quality live sport year after year. Also the lack of facilities is telling. It dies surprise me somewhat though. Most of the Festival venues in England are temporary venues, set up almost solely for the one week a year that the first class match is played there. Speaking from my own personal experience, at Southchurch Park in Southend (the same venue where Bradmans Invincibles scored a ridiculous 10-721 in a single day) the first class pitch straddled two club ovals and was roped off for the first part of the season. I find it incredible that cricket, such a popular sport in this country - has so few grounds up to first-class standard. Is this a Cricket Australia standard that is more stringent than other parts of the world? I find it equally baffling that Victoria only has one pitch/ground of first class quality in the entire state, when facilities and grounds would be shared with AFL teams. Surely the dressing rooms/off field facilities can't be so terrible that they are suitable for suburban AFL leagues but not first class cricket?
KOS
Guest
I for one would love to see a few thousand people at every shield match but I am sure it would not be hard for respective states to promote their matches. I am an avid supporter of the Blues and am very up to date with the games but for a more casual supporter they are unaware of the progress of the Shield. I am in my last year of school so do not get time to get out to the games but love spending a couple of hours at the SCG and I think the players would love it if a few more cricket lovers turned out the games.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
I've said on here, and in other places, that every6 state shouold play two Shield games a summer away from the capital. And that the opposition must vary, so that after two full seasons a player will have played on all six Test venues. No shifting one opponent to the regions year after year. One problem, however, is a lack of FC venues. There are requirements for player facilities, nets, and other practice areas, which are not cheaply covered. That Australia's original FC venue (Launceston's NTCA ground is on the site of the Racecourse Ground) is a run-down husk that gets nothing more than a womens game or futures league match, and is barely adequate host club matches, is an indictment on the sport's administration. The other thing I would do is try, as much as possib;e, to play those games over weekends when there is no international on television. In the cities, you get to see the national team. Seeing national players line up for the state tam is enough of a drawcard in regional areas to bring a few extra people out. While regional areas will never match the capital cities for crowds at internationals, they can do so when the Shield is the highest available competiiton to see live. And in many states it might not be the same regional centres every year. Queensland might hold games in Rockhampton and Townsville one year, then Cairns and Gold Coast the net for example. The game could become a local event. The chance to see top class cricket live once every few years in some cases, and once a year in others.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
It will be good to hear what the attendances are Ben... And I really hope the local fans get behind it. It's a rare event at the moment, and a great way for country fans to be a part of the festival of cricket that's happening across the country during the World Cup.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
It's a more than valid point Bush, but the massive size of the states is exactly why I believe games should be taken out to the extremities. I think it's so easy to forget about the country areas when we live in the capital cities, but you're so right in that the costs would be astronomical... I'm certainly not suggesting that every game is played at a different venue, in a different city, however the occasional match, even one per year will arrest any thoughts that the State teams are glorified City teams and once more the country gets abandoned and left to its own devices. I'd actually be just as keen to have Queensland games played at Allan Border Field as opposed to the 'Gabba. Small grounds are simply more enjoyable to attend as a spectator. The added bonus of taking games away from the capitals is just that, an added bonus. madmonk mentioned above that Shield games used to get 4000 people per day at Newcastle. There would have to be a way to make a buck out of that wouldn't there? The money clubs/councils could make from beverage sales alone could offset the ground hire? I think its probably just wishful thinking - but I'm nothing if not a dreamer!
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
Thanks pirate. And absolutely right, the contribution country areas have made to the national team over the years has been remarkable, and actually bringing the cricket to these areas would be a just reward. Playing tour matches (something I'd love to see more of as well - but that's a different story) is another great way country towns can be included in Australian cricket.
The Bush
Roar Guru
It's simply not economically viable for games to be played around states the size of Australia's. Remember you have to fly these guys around, put them up for the night etc. It's not like moving around an English county that simply requires catching the bus the morning of the game. The Shield doesn't make money no amount of amendments will fix that, so they have to be realistic about expenses outlayed. Having said all that, the sentiment and idea is great.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Free entry for the four days in Wagga starting Sunday. Hopefully a big crowd turns up. Looking forward to it!
Rellum
Roar Guru
QLD should definitely have taken games to the far north. Back in my grade days people from the bush would always whinge that the State team was more of a Brisbane team than a State team. Sending games would build bridges for that. This divide is the reason I though a Brisbane Bulls would always work as a BBL identity.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
That's a good point KOS. I have to admit I was surprised at how little first class cricket was played in this country when I first moved over here... Perhaps there is a case to add the ACT or NT into the fold? The quality of the teams you see fronting up in Shield cricket is sometimes bewildering to an Englishman. So many quality players spread across so few teams. Makes for a very competitive environment which obviously more than accounts for the smaller pool of players playing regular first class cricket.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
Absolutely madmonk, it is awesome seeing top players in local grounds. I saw the Australian Touring side play at Chelmsford once and it was a massive highlight in my cricket watching life. And the match Bradmans Invincibles played at Southend is still talked about in the town, despite there not being many around who remember it! Over 4000 per day is an awesome attendance too. Administrators wouldn't know what to do with themselves if that many turned up to a Shield game now!
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
Queensland have played a fair few games at Allan Border Field in recent years, but that's not exactly taking games out of the big city... It is a brilliant place to watch cricket though.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
Too right guys, having school clinics and making it a real festival of cricket would be a massive boost to the regional areas that have given Australian cricket so much over the last 100 or so years. Plus bringing the local oval up to first class standard would have a real positive impact on the players in that particular regional area, and open up the possibility to hosting Second XI games and even international touring sides again in the future. It certainly worked for Traeger Park in Alice after that CA Chairmans XI match against England last year...
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
You're absolutely right Chris. Essex - for example, will play 6 home Championship games at Chelmsford, and 1 in Colchester. On top of that they have 6 T20 games, 3 one day matches and a tour match against the Australians all at Chelmsford, with a further one day match at Colchester. So only about 10% of home games are lost to Festival grounds. I think one game would be plenty to be honest.
Craig Watson
Guest
I always thought that SS was the second most important tournament in the Australian cricket calendar. After all it is the stepping stone to test cricket. Why then does CA continue to not do enough to promote it? Forget about your bottom line for just a moment. Look at the bigger picture instead CA. If SS dies out where will Australian cricket be then?