Almanac Cricket – Shield goes North

Sheffield Shield heads to Northern Australia

 

In the midst of a national cricket crisis, the Sheffield Shield has never been so important. The city of Townsville will be treated to a FREE special event next week when Queensland host Western Australia at Tony Ireland Stadium. The timing couldn’t be any better.

 

As the Australian cricket team crumbled to its tenth straight loss in Hobart, the public’s attention turned swiftly to the nation’s First Class competition.

 

Responding to Australia’s poor form coach Darren Lehmann said “there’ll definitely be change”. He wasn’t mucking about. Cricket Australia made six changes to the squad and four new players could debut in Adelaide on Thursday.

 

The ‘crisis’ at Test level had elevated State cricket to critical priority. This is ironic. Despite verbal commitments of support, First Class cricket has continuously been demoted by cricket’s national administrator. The Sheffield Shield is difficult to follow, no longer on the television or the radio and was pushed to the fringes of the summer and replaced by the franchise T20 Big Bash League in 2011.

 

Are we seeing the sour fruits of this demotion flow through to the Test arena?

 

Although the squad for the third Test against South Africa has been chosen, the game in Townsville next weekend is pivotal.

 

Australia has three more Tests this summer against Pakistan and a tour to India in March 2017. Every player in the Sheffield Shield has a chance to make it to the top, so the competition at Riverway will be fierce. It is also the second last match in the Shield before the competition is suspended for the Big Bash.

 

Locals have an extra incentive to support the event.

 

A big crowd will show Cricket Australia how much the city loves cricket and guide future decisions around hosting rights. The Northern half of the continent is starved of professional sport and for competitions to be truly national, the North needs more exposure to big events.

 

There is a chance that Townsville could host a winter Test Match against Bangladesh, who recently beat England for the first time. So this is Townsville’s chance.

 

The city has a rich and extensive cricket history. The local competition is four grades deep and the top tier is a good regional standard, having produced top players such as Mitchell Johnson. It stretches at least as far back as the Sheffield Shield’s 124 year history too and cricket royalty has visited before. Queensland defeated a West Indian side at the city’s Endeavour Park in 1987. Haynes, Richardson, Gomes, Richards, Dujon, Marshal and Garner played. The city also hosted the under 19 50 over World Cup in 2012 and recent A-list tour matches including India, South Africa and Australia.

 

Local clubs Norths, Saints, Brothers, Northern Beaches, Suburban Parks, Wests and Wanderers are encouraged to help boost the attendance at the Shield match this week.

 

Everybody in the North Queensland region who enjoys a day out with fabulous free entertainment should seize the opportunity to see quality live cricket.

 

Strong support will enhance Townsville’s chances of seeing Test cricket in the future.

 

What you need to know about the event:

  • FREE ENTRY
  • Four day match Queensland v Western Australia at Tony Ireland Stadium
  • Play starts at 10 am Saturday 26 November, finishes 1700
  • Play also scheduled on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday 1000-1700

 

There’s a world class grandstand, plenty of shade and grassy hills perfect for a family picnic, a bar for refreshments and a free public pool next door to enjoy during the lunch and tea breaks. Howzat!

 

Join the event on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/events/1255627194508853/

 

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About Pat White

I love Test cricket and struggle to embrace T20. One is like reading a great novel with a twisting plot and intriguing characters and the other is a cheap and trashy magazine. But the popular trashy mag is here to stay. So let's help cricket's new audience discover the romance and frantic drama of cricket's greatest format; Test Match. Join me for some non-establishment cricket analysis and get involved by posting a comment.

Comments

  1. Luke Reynolds says

    Pat, hope this game is well supported.
    Totally agree big games should be spread right around the country, including regional venues.
    I attended the inaugural Test in Cairns against Bangladesh, wonderful event and venue. Will look to get to Townsville’s first Test when it happens.

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