South Australia is closer to realizing its dream of hosting the Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval. This possibility arose after South Australia secured hosting rights by defeating Victoria. Coach Ryan Harris expressed his team’s desire to play at this venue, and discussions have reached the premier’s office to navigate scheduling conflicts with the Australian Football League (AFL).
After achieving a remarkable four-wicket victory at Junction Oval against Victoria, South Australia secured the top position, guaranteeing them the right to host their first Shield final since 2016. The win, highlighted by Jake Lehmann’s outstanding unbeaten century as they chased down 300 in the fourth innings, fueled hopes for the final to be held at Adelaide Oval.
Speculation about Adelaide Oval hosting the final began after a win against Western Australia in Perth. However, official confirmation was pending until South Australia definitively secured hosting rights.
The final is tentatively scheduled from March 26 to March 30. A significant challenge is that Adelaide Oval’s drop-in pitches have already been removed in preparation for the AFL season, with Adelaide Crows’ first home game on March 16 and Port Adelaide’s home game on March 22.
To accommodate the Shield final at Adelaide Oval, it would need to be moved to Monday, March 24 to Friday, March 28, fitting between the AFL fixtures. It’s understood that a drop-in pitch could be installed after the AFL game on March 22, prepared externally and ready for play by March 24, with the outfield adjusted accordingly.
Coach Harris stated after the victory over Victoria that playing the final in Adelaide is gaining momentum. He believes there are still details to finalize but is optimistic given the confirmed hosting rights. He added that the team wants to play at Adelaide Oval, acknowledging potential slight differences in outfield speed compared to earlier season games but not considering it a major issue.
Hosting the Shield final at Adelaide Oval would be a significant event, as the venue hasn’t hosted one since 1996. The increasing overlap between the AFL season and cricket has made venues like Adelaide Oval, MCG, SCG, Gabba, and Perth Stadium generally unavailable for Shield finals during the AFL season.
Premier Peter Malinauskas has personally intervened, engaging with local AFL clubs to find a solution. He expressed optimism about finding a compromise through reasoned discussion, requiring flexibility from all parties, including the AFL and the Crows. He noted the Crows’ pragmatic approach as commendable and emphasized the AFL’s role in facilitating the event.
The AFL appears cooperative, with CEO Andrew Dillon indicating the league’s willingness to accommodate the final if scheduling permits, recognizing the multi-sport nature of major Australian stadiums.
Playing the final at Adelaide Oval would shorten the turnaround for the visiting team to five days. Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria are still in contention for the final.
Jake Lehmann, along with Alex Carey and Travis Head, are the only South Australian players with prior Shield final experience. Lehmann expressed his enthusiasm for playing the final at Adelaide Oval, praising it as the world’s best stadium and recalling the good crowd at their last home final at Glenelg Oval.
Harris confirmed Alex Carey’s availability for both the final Shield game and the final. However, Travis Head will be unavailable due to his commitment to the IPL. Jake Fraser-McGurk and Spencer Johnson, also IPL-bound, will be unavailable as well. Harris acknowledged and supported their IPL choices.
