“The Cricketer”
by Kate Birrell
The domestic cricket first class season gets underway today with Round 1 of the Marsh Sheffield Shield competition. Victoria takes on South Australia at St Kilda, Queensland meets New South Wales at the Gabba and Western Australia hosts Tasmania at the WACA.
View the whole season of Sheffield Shield fixtures by clicking HERE.
The early Rounds of ‘the Shield’ promise to be more engaging than usual given that there are several Test places up for grabs leading into the First Test against Pakistan in late November. Batsmen, in particular, will be keen to get runs on the board early in the season since it seems that only Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are locks in the top six. Even David Warner appears to have been given the word that he needs to demonstrate why he should be retained after his disappointing Ashes campaign.
View the Australia v Pakistan Test match schedule by clicking HERE.
Australia then goes on to host New Zealand in a 3-Test series in the pre- and post-Christmas period. View that schedule of Test matches by clicking HERE.
So all that’s left to do is to wait for the umpire at the bowler’s end to call ‘Play’ at 10.30am in Melbourne this morning. Perhaps Almanackers Jan and Marshall Courtin will be there having another chat with Luke Reynolds and his kids.
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Thoroughly enjoyed keeping tabs on the Vics piling on the first innings runs. Thrilled Pucovski made a ton, huge talent.
Sadly won’t get to the Junction this weekend due to my own cricket commitments, but love the Shield and it being played at the renovated St Kilda venue.