The Sheffield Shield Final will be played at Glenelg Oval, should the Redbacks win hosting rights the South Australian Cricket Association said today.
SACA chief executive Keith Bradshaw confirmed that Adelaide Oval will be unavailable at the time of the final as it hosts the Rolling Stones concert.
The ground would not be available to host cricket again until 31 March which the SACA and Cricket Australia deemed was too late due to a 17-day break from the final game of the Shiled cricket season.
“We made this decision, along with Cricket Australia, in the best interests of our players and coaches so they could have clarity on the date and location of the match,” Bradshaw said.
“We wanted to ensure our team and support staff could prepare as best as they could; they are our first priority.
“Should the West End Redbacks earn the right to host a home final, the match will remain in South Australia at a ground that our team knows well, in front of a parochial home crowd.”
SACA has been working with the team at Gliderol Stadium (the commercial name of Glenelg Oval) since November 2009 to develop its pitches to first-class standard.
Former Adelaide Oval curator Les Burdett has been contracted by SACA to prepare the outfield and centre wicket.
The stadium hosted the opening Bupa Sheffield Shield match of the 2013/14 season between the West End Redbacks and the XXXX Gold Queensland Bulls.
“Gliderol Stadium has proved itself as a great location and venue for loyal cricket fans,” Bradshaw said.
“We had fantastic attendances in the first Bupa Sheffield Shield match in October last year, and we are hoping thousands of South Australian cricket fans would attend over the five days of a final.”
