Frustration as SA Government’s Attempt to Secure Sheffield Shield Final at Adelaide Oval Falls Short

The South Australian government’s proposal to stage the Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval has been denied.

On Friday, Cricket Australia revealed in a statement that the upcoming five-day match will take place at Karen Rolton Oval, situated in the heart of Adelaide.

This conclusion followed discussions among the SA government, Cricket Australia, and the AFL regarding the scheduling of the match between Port Adelaide’s round one fixture against Richmond, set for Saturday, March 22, and Adelaide’s round three encounter with North Melbourne the following Sunday.

“It is disappointing that South Australia has been denied the chance to host the Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval,” remarked Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg.

“The Sheffield Shield final is a key occasion in Australia’s national sport, and we consider Adelaide Oval the ideal venue.”

The final was initially scheduled to commence on Monday, March 24 and end on Friday, March 28, but will now kick off on Wednesday, March 26.

This week, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas publicly criticised the Adelaide Crows for seeking taxpayer concessions in exchange for allowing the Shield final to take place at Adelaide Oval just days before their third-round fixture.

“We have received a request that didn’t originate from cricket, and I won’t specify which football entity it involves,” Malinauskas explained on Adelaide radio station FIVEAA, later confirming that the petition came from the Crows.

“It’s quite frustrating that some are trying to exploit an opportunity to enhance the fan experience while simultaneously looking to burden the taxpayer. I won’t allow that.

“Simply handing over funds is not something I’m prepared to do. I hope this doesn’t hinder progress.”

“Our government will not be giving money to facilitate something that everyone believes should take place.”

Malinauskas was keen to have the Shield final held at the Adelaide Oval, as South Australia has not won the first-class competition since 1996.

The state team also secured the right to host after finishing atop the Shield ladder.

“I wish to thank Premier Malinauskas for his strong support for cricket and the South Australian Cricket Association, who put forth a compelling argument to host the final at Adelaide Oval,” said Greenberg.

“We will continue to collaborate at every level to ensure cricket gets the fair access it deserves to shared venues nationwide.”

AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon has previously confirmed that the league was amenable to hosting the game at Adelaide Oval; however, they would not alter any of their scheduled fixtures to accommodate the final.

The reasons behind the Crows’ request for tax relief remain unclear, but it is speculated that concerns regarding the safety of the playing surface and the players’ health played a part in their decision.

South Australia’s opponent will be determined this weekend during the final round of Sheffield Shield matches.