Australian Domestic Cricket 2020-21
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2020 2:52 pmCricket Australia is weighing up a radical and expensive AFL-style hub model to start the Sheffield Shield season.
Foxsports.com.au understands Adelaide looms as the most likely location for all six states to live, train and play for five weeks from early October through to mid-November.
Under a likely scenario floated with states, each team would play four Shield games at a combination of Glenelg, Karen Rolton Oval and Adelaide Oval.
The matches would have three days in between and conclude in time for Australia’s historic Test against Afghanistan in Perth, likely to be staged in the first week of December.
The players have fought hard for Shield cricket to open the summer, despite hesitance from Cricket Australia and some state bodies to commit to the costs of staging 10 matches per team in a biosecure environment.
One option was to play the Marsh Cup 50-over competition in a hub before the Big Bash League and save a reduced Shield season for February and March 2021.
But the Australian Cricketers’ Association was adamant a full Shield season should be played, and it appears they will get their wish.
South Australia as a hub location fits the bill for Cricket Australia, which is in the final stages of confirming this summer’s fixtures.
The state has three venues equipped to host First Class cricket, is not expected to have AFL football like Queensland and does not have hard borders like Western Australia.
NSW and Victoria also have multiple suitable grounds, but the Covid-19 situation in each region will see both states relocate.
Tasmania does not have three venues approved for First Class games.
The idea, according to sources familiar with high level discussions, will be that games are played concurrently at the three South Australian venues.
Getting four rounds out of the way in less than five weeks will ease the burden at the back end of the summer and keep alive the players’ wishes for a full Shield campaign, complete with 10 games each and a final.
In recent years, The Marsh Cup has commenced in September but that now appears unlikely.
The Victorian team, which has just appointed Chris Rogers as coach, would have to complete a pre-quarantine period in Melbourne before flying to Adelaide and quarantining there as well.
South Australia has officially bid for the AFL Grand Final to be played at Adelaide Oval on October 24, but the venue has little hope of toppling Optus Stadium or the Gabba.
Karen Rolton Oval hosted a First Class fixture in 2018/19, while Glenelg Oval has three matches to its name.
How to kick off the summer is just one of several delicate matters on Cricket Australia’s plate.
Foxsports.com.au understands Adelaide looms as the most likely location for all six states to live, train and play for five weeks from early October through to mid-November.
Under a likely scenario floated with states, each team would play four Shield games at a combination of Glenelg, Karen Rolton Oval and Adelaide Oval.
The matches would have three days in between and conclude in time for Australia’s historic Test against Afghanistan in Perth, likely to be staged in the first week of December.
The players have fought hard for Shield cricket to open the summer, despite hesitance from Cricket Australia and some state bodies to commit to the costs of staging 10 matches per team in a biosecure environment.
One option was to play the Marsh Cup 50-over competition in a hub before the Big Bash League and save a reduced Shield season for February and March 2021.
But the Australian Cricketers’ Association was adamant a full Shield season should be played, and it appears they will get their wish.
South Australia as a hub location fits the bill for Cricket Australia, which is in the final stages of confirming this summer’s fixtures.
The state has three venues equipped to host First Class cricket, is not expected to have AFL football like Queensland and does not have hard borders like Western Australia.
NSW and Victoria also have multiple suitable grounds, but the Covid-19 situation in each region will see both states relocate.
Tasmania does not have three venues approved for First Class games.
The idea, according to sources familiar with high level discussions, will be that games are played concurrently at the three South Australian venues.
Getting four rounds out of the way in less than five weeks will ease the burden at the back end of the summer and keep alive the players’ wishes for a full Shield campaign, complete with 10 games each and a final.
In recent years, The Marsh Cup has commenced in September but that now appears unlikely.
The Victorian team, which has just appointed Chris Rogers as coach, would have to complete a pre-quarantine period in Melbourne before flying to Adelaide and quarantining there as well.
South Australia has officially bid for the AFL Grand Final to be played at Adelaide Oval on October 24, but the venue has little hope of toppling Optus Stadium or the Gabba.
Karen Rolton Oval hosted a First Class fixture in 2018/19, while Glenelg Oval has three matches to its name.
How to kick off the summer is just one of several delicate matters on Cricket Australia’s plate.
Adam Zampa as a listed player in his NSW polo 
