Sheffield Shield set for September start

An early start to the Shield season will be good for the likes of Khawaja, Marsh and Forrest to make their claims for the Aussie side.

@duralsumo - I have played a lot of winter cricket in various village cricket comps along the eastern seaboard. We all know winter can (temperature wise) be better than say England, I have no doubts that the weather would be reasonable for Test or Shield cricket. Where I am not a fan of September Shield cricket is in terms of pitch preparation & to a lessor extent ground availability. The Shield is suppose to be the pinnacle of Oz domestic cricket & I don't like (rightly or wrongly) having it shunted around tfor the whims of a T20 competition (Champ League or BBL). I'd rather the Shield go ahead as planned & work WA & NSW into a heavier November timetable, (aware that the Champ League doesn't just affect two states).

@Mr Pud - wonder why you'd make that comment? As has rightly been pointed out, NSW has in the past used regional centres, if anything more so than other states, & they have used Nth Sydney Oval (not regional), as a 2nd venue more often than most State teams would do. @hyclass - not sure what you meant???? When Cairns & Darwin were first used, it was because of the FTP. I made a comment recently about some of Oz's biggest regional population bases not getting matches where smaller venues did. In this case I wouldn't be opposed to the top end getting a game or two IF that is what HAS to happen. Prefer condensing the BBL. Regarding Rogers, I am assuming your talking about another article, but I can't work out which on what you have said????

I am wondering in this age we live why we cannot have dates set out at least by the end of the previous season. The cricket club I play for try an oganise a trip to one of the interstate cricket grounds (we are based in north west Sydney) each year. It would help with our recruitment for each tour as well as give us an opportunity to take up airline specials. By May / June by the time the dates are announced most guys are involved with Rugby, Football and AFL. We do recognise that at least five cricket nations share the same season however an earlier announcement would make it easier. Before El Nina hit Sydney my cricket club had a winter competition.We still have one however each match this winter has been washed out. So September is a great time for shield cricket. We should also look at hosting the cricket minows in Test Matches in Darwin, Cairns and Townsville. Players union may not like that though!

@Meety...I rebutted the Rogers article on coaching & also the one by him on 'Australias Best and Brightest".Chanderpaul was easily the top batsman on either side in the recently concluded series. His technique is nowhere in any textbook.Excessive observation of technique detracts from mentally imposing oneself on the ball and bowler.All a batsman needs to succeed is an attacking plan,a defensive plan and the courage,stamina and physical ability to execute it.Jason Gillespies 201* is a case in point.I was correct about Cummins being injured if he was selected.The wickets he took were in the last innings of the 2nd of two Tests.SA had played no cricket for some time.The 1st Test lasted little more than 2 days on a minefield wicket.The 2nd went well into the 5th day.Fatigue is far more to be observed in batsmen who are afforded only 1 mistake,than bowlers.This article supports my continued correct observations in advance of events of both players and the behaviour behind the scenes at CA.

Hence it was the weather that saw matches being played in Cairns and Darwin @Meety,not population. This article underscores what I have long maintained-that CA's policy was a long standing lack of investment in traditional cricket under the administration that took charge in 2006.Using the retiremements of players as a ready reason,one for which the world class systems of excellence & institutions had been purposed 20 years previously,CA set about undermining & reversing the policies and practices of excellence that had seen Australias period of dominance in order to make BBL seem more appealing.Hayden,who had a grounding in Indian 20/20 and was a CA boardmember at the time,made a statement to the effect that he,'was not invested in traditional cricket other than India and England who just happen to be the 20/20 media powerhouses'.His statement was never rebuked by CA.Shamefully he now part owns a BBL side.How quickly we see Shield being sidelined.September was never a southern option.

Anyone can play cricket in Perth in September. It's likely to be beautiful weather that time of year. Just make the Bushrangers and the Tigers play away from home and September wouldn't be an issue really.

smudgeon, Manuka Oval probably can not be made ready in September, and Stadium Australia will not be available due to NRL finals. I would think North Sydney and Newcastle#1 would be among the grounds considered in NSW, if any. If the SANFL play at Football Park, Adelaide Oval could be used if other SA footy comps don't have rights. The WACA isn't used by the WAFL, but again other WA competitions may have it booked. I'd rather not have Shield games played that early though, as it is Tasmania usually ends up playing First Class and ListA cricket before the Hobart competition manages to get a day of club cricket.

It would make sense to play in places like Cairns & Darwin this early in the season. September is pretty hit and miss in Canberra, plus the GWS will whinge about cricket creeping in. Surprised Darwin & Cairns don't get used more during the Winter, especially against more minnow countries but I guess the calendar is getting pretty full with all these T20 tournaments. 'A' tours up there would be the way to go.

Hahah exactly right about not playing down here in tassie. September is possibly our wettest month. A few years ago, our club season was delayed by a whole month because it was just too wet for groundsmen to even begin preparing a pitch. I think if they're going to start the shield in september, ovals like north sydney and AB field will have to be used. Why not get a fair piece of one day cricket out of the way early on too?