Cricket Australia has confirmed that this year's Sheffield Shield final will not be held at the Adelaide Oval. The association stated on its official website that the Australian Football League (AFL) prevented the use of the iconic venue. This decision has sparked considerable debate within the cricketing community regarding venue priorities.
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03-14, 2025The South Australia men's cricket team earned the right to host the five-day match, and the South Australia Cricket Association and Cricket Australia had been working to secure the final at Adelaide's premier ground. However, the event fell between two Australian Rules football matches at the venue, raising concerns that the temporary cricket pitch could compromise player safety. These safety concerns ultimately proved decisive in the decision-making process.
South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas had spearheaded a plan to reinstall a temporary cricket pitch at the Adelaide Oval after an Australian Rules football match on March 22, so that South Australia could host the final at the Adelaide Oval from March 24-28. Cricket Australia stated on its website that the venue would then be prepared again for another Australian Rules football match on March 30. But the association also noted: "Ultimately, however, the AFL, which has had use of the ground since March 15 each year, had the final say due to concerns about player safety." The AFL's control over the venue during this period was a key factor.
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg confirmed in a statement that the five-day match will be moved to Karen Rolton Oval, with the match starting on March 26. Greenberg stated: "We are disappointed that South Australia has not been granted the opportunity to host the Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval. The Sheffield Shield final is an important fixture on the Australian national sports calendar and we felt Adelaide Oval would have been a fitting venue. I want to thank Premier Malinauskas for his advocacy on this matter and his passionate support of cricket and SACA, who put forward a compelling case to host the final at Adelaide Oval." The move to Karen Rolton Oval is seen as a compromise.
The AFL has received a request for comment. A spokesperson for the South Australia state government said in a statement that the state government was disappointed with the decision. "The State Government thanks the AFL for the significant time and effort they put into reviewing the proposal to host the Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval," the statement read. "However, given the Adelaide Oval and its world-renowned Head Curator, Damien Hough, considered it was feasible to host the Sheffield Shield final without impacting the required standard for all AFL matches, we are disappointed with this decision. Nonetheless, the State Government does appreciate the strong partnership it has with the AFL." Premier Malinauskas had previously indicated that some parties were seeking compensation if the final venue was changed, but he clarified on Thursday that the matter had been resolved. This resolution is crucial for maintaining positive relationships between the involved organizations.
