TOPIC:

Cricket Australia has been pretty soft in this though, the Vics have played their last few home games in Alice Springs and they should have made them play there instead of letting them to take it to Tassie where they know the weather and light can affect the result.

MarkOlsen wrote: Cricket Australia has been pretty soft in this though, the Vics have played their last few home games in Alice Springs and they should have made them play there instead of letting them to take it to Tassie where they know the weather and light can affect the result.

The five-day match will be played at Blundstone Arena from Saturday after CA rejected intense lobbying from the West Australian Cricket Association that the Bushrangers had effectively relinquished hosting rights, and therefore the match should be played at the WACA Ground in Perth.

It was also changed last year to suit NSW.

With work having yet to begin on the $25 million redevelopment of the Junction Oval in St Kilda it was decided by Cricket Victoria that the current facilities were inadequate for the shield's showpiece match. CA's wish to have the match played at a proven first-class venue prompted CV's request to host in Hobart.

While the team that wins hosting rights for the shield is supposed to host the match in their state, or else relinquish hosting rights to the second-placed team, CV argued a precedent was set last year when Cricket NSW was permitted to host the final at Canberra's Manuka Oval, in the ACT, because the SCG was unavailable.

I was speaking with Voges last night. Apparently they're all struggling to find accomodation as there is some arts festival in Hobart at the moment or at the same time.

had to overnight in Melbourne also as they could not get direct flights right through.

On the plus side if WA is struggling for accommodation then surely the Vic's are also.

The Victorians could fly out on the day TBH, yeah not ideal, but nor is sleeping in some half arsed last minute cheap hotel either in Hobart......should of played the game in Adelaide......half way point for both teams, decent weather, not as though many fans are gonna watch the game anyway......well no more in SA than in Tassie anyway

I think this saga demonstrates where the Sheffield Shield sits in the Cricket Australia scheme of things. It is an unwanted distraction from where the real money is made, that is International cricket and the BBL.

Some of the best Shield games in history were the finals of the 80's and 90's. For example the very first one in 1983 was at the WACA and had test strength teams of NSW and WA playing. Geoff Lawson put his name up in lights by being a matchwinner for NSW in this game. In 1991, Justin Langer came in with WA at 3 - 3 and produced a century which led the Warriors to victory and caught the eye of the Aussie selectors. These games were show pieces and marketed as a highlight of the domestic season

However times have changed and todays shield finals are just a pale imitation of these games of the past. CA just appear to see them as another game that has to be played. My view is that they should not happen any more and the shield should just go to the top team after the qualifying rounds.

They should be playing it NZ so Freeze can go have a look see

Mike -- really good post. I also remember the final where Jamie Siddons batted for hours to keep WA at bay.

Interestingly though, given your remark above, I have never really liked the concept of a shield final; first should finish first in my humble opinion

ArkRoyal wrote: Mike -- really good post. I also remember the final where Jamie Siddons batted for hours to keep WA at bay.

Interestingly though, given your remark above, I have never really liked the concept of a shield final; first should finish first in my humble opinion

I can see your point, however when it was introduced it gave a real boost to the shield competition as many of the early games had a 'grand final' type feel to them and the crowds were significantly better than normal shield games. You just get the feeling now though that the teams are going through the motions. Thats why I think we should revert back to the top team winning.

Having said that I will be absolutely delighted if Adam Voges men can buck all the odds and win the final. It will be a win to savour without doubt.

Freezin wrote: The Victorians could fly out on the day TBH, yeah not ideal, but nor is sleeping in some half arsed last minute cheap hotel either in Hobart......should of played the game in Adelaide......half way point for both teams, decent weather, not as though many fans are gonna watch the game anyway......well no more in SA than in Tassie anyway

If they are judging the attendance figures on a head count then you will be getting double the crowd in Tassie!!