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Even the most seasoned cricket supporter would be pardoned for being unaware that the final of Australia’s most prestigious long form domestic cricket competition is currently being played.
Yes, that’s right, Glenelg’s Gliderol Stadium currently plays host to the final as Victoria take on South Australia for the right to lift the 123-year-old trophy.
Despite the prominence of cricket in the Australian sub-conscious and the promotion of the Big Bash League in recent times, the Sheffield Shield remains omitted from both free-to-air and pay TV schedules. Cricket Australia’s online subscription service is the only way to tune into events in the number one domestic cricket competition in the country.
2016 Sheffield Shield final:
» 2016 Sheffield Shield final live blog
» 2016 Sheffield Shield final scorecard
What kind of a message does it send to young cricket fans, when Twenty20s are so readily watchable but the longer form of the game doesn’t rear its head on the television schedule?
It stands to reason that Cricket Australia are more interested in cashing in on the growing fanfare over the limited over edition of the sport rather than developing youngsters with a pedigree and love for the purest form of the game.
I’d wager that younger fans of cricket aren’t even aware of the existence of the Sheffield Shield! It’s a rather alarming statement, considering the very same supporters could talk your ear off about the magic reverse sweeps of Glenn Maxwell or the marvelous victory of the Sydney Thunder in BBL05.
Surely, considering the love for Test cricket which arrives each and every summer, there would be some level of support for the return of longer form domestic cricket to the small screen. Regardless of dwindling crowd numbers, it is difficult to argue a lack of interest, especially when the Big Bash League receives massive audiences year in year out.
Even if ABC were to televise just one match a week, similar to their former coverage of Rugby’s Shute Shield, domestic cricket would receive a massive boost.
It’s about time domestic long form cricket received the nourishment it deserves, and the best way to do so is allowing fans all over the country tune in and watch their states compete on a weekly basis.
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