Cricket Australia has confirmed the Sheffield Shield final will take place at Karen Rolton Oval after the AFL blocked South Australia’s bid to host the marquee fixture at Adelaide Oval.
After South Australia secured hosting rights for the Sheffield Shield decider, Premier Peter Malinauskas and SACA pushed for the match to be played at Adelaide Oval, wedged between Port Adelaide’s match against Richmond on Saturday, March 22 and the Adelaide Crows’ game against North Melbourne at the same venue the following Sunday.
The venue’s drop-in pitches have already been removed, but there was a possibility for them to be reinstated for the five-day contest with minimal impact on the playing surface.
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However, the AFL and Crows expressed concerns about player safety — the venue’s outfield would need to be cut for the Sheffield Shield final and the grass wouldn’t grow back enough to the AFL’s usual standard to help cushion tackled players.
Subsequently, suburban venue Karen Rolton Oval will host the Sheffield Shield final, with South Australia’s opponent to be determined in the coming days.
South Australia has not won a Sheffield Shield title since 1996.
More to come…
BREAKING: AFL blocks Adelaide Oval from hosting Sheffield Shield final – Fox Sports
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