Photo Credit: Cricket NSW
After the stunning success of Sydney Thunder’s BBL match in Albury on New Year’s Eve comes news that the NSW Blues will play Victoria in a Marsh Sheffield Shield fixture for the Hodge-Matthews Trophy at Lavington Sports Ground from March 2-5.
Entry to the match will be free for spectators with organisers hoping the local community will come along to watch some of the country’s best cricketers.
The Sheffield Shield, contested by all six states, is Australia’s most iconic domestic cricket competition and has been running since 1892. NSW have won the Shield a record 47 times, while Victoria is the second most successful state with 32 titles.
The Hodge-Matthews Trophy is a perpetual trophy that NSW and Victoria play for when they meet in the Sheffield Shield.
The current Blues team is captained by former Test player Kurtis Patterson and also features the likes of fellow internationals Moises Henriques, Sean Abbott and Adam Zampa, while Sydney Thunder stars Jason Sangha and Chris Green are regular contributors.
Cricket NSW CEO Lee Germon said Lavington Sports Ground had proven itself during the BBL season, continuing the great relationship between cricket and the area.
“The Sydney Thunder match at Lavington Sports Ground was one of the best matches of the BBL summer and we are really excited to bring more elite cricket to Albury,” Germon said.
“It is a great opportunity for us to take elite cricket to the regions and it is something we have an increased focus on doing in coming years.
“We hope that seeing our NSW Blues team, one of the most successful sporting teams in the state over many decades, can inspire more girl’s and boy’s in the area to play and love cricket.”
AlburyCity Mayor Kylie King said she is pleased to see more elite cricket coming to the city after the BBL match on New Year’s Eve.
“The BBL match was a great success with huge attendance from our local community, and showed the nation what our state-of-the-art Lavington Sports Ground is capable of,” Mayor King said.
“We are proud to have one of regional Australia’s premier sporting facilities, and we’ll will continue to work with peak bodies such as Cricket NSW to attract elite sporting events to our region.
“This upcoming First-Class cricket match is another opportunity for our community to see their idols in the flesh, and show our young aspiring cricketers what’s possible if they put their mind to it.”
Entry details and a spectator guide will be released in coming weeks.
Name of Author: Cricket NSW
Cricket NSW, officially the New South Wales Cricket Association, is the governing body for cricket in New South Wales, Australia. Based at Sydney Olympic Park, it oversees the New South Wales Blues, New South Wales Breakers, Sydney Thunder, and Sydney Sixers.
