South Australia is on the verge of realizing its ambition to host the Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval after securing hosting rights with a victory over Victoria. Coach Ryan Harris expressed the team’s strong desire to play at this venue, and it’s becoming increasingly likely as discussions have reached high levels of state government, involving the Australian Football League (AFL) to potentially adjust the final’s dates.
This marks South Australia’s first Shield final at home since 2016, earned by topping the table after a remarkable four-wicket win at Junction Oval. The victory was highlighted by Jake Lehmann’s exceptional unbeaten century, which helped chase down a target of 300 in the final innings.
Speculation about Adelaide Oval hosting the final began after a previous win against Western Australia in Perth. However, official confirmation was pending until South Australia definitively secured their place as hosts.
The final is tentatively scheduled from March 26 to 30. A significant challenge is that Adelaide Oval’s drop-in pitches have already been removed in preparation for the AFL season, starting with Adelaide Crows’ first home game on March 16, followed by Port Adelaide’s home game on March 22.
To accommodate the Shield final at Adelaide Oval, it would need to be moved forward by two days, potentially taking place between Monday, March 24, and Friday, March 28. This would place it between the weekend AFL fixtures, with the Crows hosting another home game on March 30.
Sources indicate that installing a single drop-in pitch after the AFL game on March 22 is feasible. The pitch would be prepared off-site and ready for play by March 24, with the outfield adjusted accordingly.
Coach Harris commented after the win against Victoria, stating that playing at Adelaide Oval is now a key objective. He believes discussions are progressing positively, although some logistical details need to be addressed. He anticipates updates in the coming days regarding the arrangements.
Harris added that the team is enthusiastic about playing at Adelaide Oval, acknowledging that the outfield might be slightly slower due to the timing, similar to early-season games. However, he remains optimistic about securing the venue, recognizing the existing agreements with the AFL and noting the positive nature of ongoing discussions.
The last Sheffield Shield final hosted at Adelaide Oval was in 1996, with South Australia’s most recent home final played at Glenelg Oval. The increasing overlap between the AFL and cricket seasons has made venues like Adelaide Oval, MCG, SCG, Gabba, and Perth Stadium, which host both sports, generally unavailable for Shield finals once the AFL season commences.
No Shield final has been held at these major venues since 2012 when Queensland hosted at the Gabba. Since then, Victoria has hosted finals in Alice Springs and Hobart, and New South Wales in Canberra, before Junction Oval and Cricket Central became options. Queensland has hosted two finals at Allan Border Field recently.
South Australia’s Premier, Peter Malinauskas, has personally intervened, engaging with local AFL clubs to find a solution. He expressed optimism about reaching a compromise that allows the final to be played at Adelaide Oval, emphasizing the need for flexibility from all parties involved and acknowledging the cooperative attitude of the Crows and the AFL.
South Australia’s final regular season Shield game is scheduled to start on Saturday, March 15, already set to be played at Karen Rolton Oval.
The AFL is reportedly open to the idea of hosting the final between football games. AFL CEO Andrew Dillon indicated the league’s willingness to cooperate, recognizing the multi-sport nature of major Australian stadiums and a commitment to accommodate such events within their schedule if feasible.
Playing the final at Adelaide Oval would shorten the turnaround for the visiting team to five days from the usual seven. Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria are still in contention for the final, depending on the outcomes of the last round.
Jake Lehmann, Alex Carey, and Travis Head are the only current South Australian players with prior experience in a Shield final. Lehmann, son of former player Darren who played in the 1996 Adelaide Oval final, expressed his strong desire to play the decider at the ground, highlighting its excellent cricketing conditions and atmosphere.
Coach Harris confirmed that Alex Carey will be available for both South Australia’s last Shield game and the final. However, Travis Head, despite captaining in previous finals, will be unavailable due to his commitment to the IPL, starting with his team Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23. Jake Fraser-McGurk and Spencer Johnson, who also played for South Australia this season, are also committed to the IPL.
Harris acknowledged the players’ choices, understanding their career priorities and jokingly suggesting they might be experiencing “FOMO” and wishing to be part of the Shield final.
