Cricket Australia today released the domestic cricket draws for the JLT Sheffield Shield, JLT One Day Cup, Women’s National Cricket League and Toyota Futures League 2nd XI competitions.

The Queensland Bulls will play two JLT Cup matches at Riverway Stadium while the Tasmanian Tigers and the Victorian Men’s team will also play a match during the week-long playing and training window in North Queensland.

The Bulls will take on Victoria on Sunday 16 September and Tasmania on Saturday 22 September, while the Tigers will clash with Victoria on Wednesday 19 September.

Riverway Stadium has previously hosted a domestic one-day game between Queensland and South Australia in October 2010 when the Bulls won a Ryobi Cup match against the Redbacks.

It has hosted One Day Internationals featuring Papua New Guinea, Sheffield Shield, Australia ‘A’ and international tour matches in recent seasons

Queensland Cricket CEO Max Walters said Townsville had a vital role to play as part of the overall mix of cricket venues.

“The Townsville City Council have delivered outstanding support for cricket by developing a top-class Stadium as well as their overall backing of Townsville cricket locally and the various Queensland Cricket programs conducted in the region,” he said.

“Queensland Cricket continues to grow strong ties with the game regionally, with domestic men’s and women’s games, youth tournaments and international matches being held each summer in areas such as Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.”

Walters revealed that the former head curator of the Gabba, Kevin Mitchell Jnr, would provide advice and help oversee the final preparations of the wicket block at the venue ahead of the JLT Cup matches.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the city was thrilled to host three JLT One Day Cup matches at Riverway Stadium.

“By hosting these One Day matches, Townsville reaffirms its position as the premier sporting destination in Northern Australia,” Cr Hill said.

“These big games also bring big dollars into our economy and create jobs for locals.”

Cr Hill said she was proud Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket had recognised Riverway Stadium as the perfect venue for major cricket matches.

“There’s no doubt Riverway Stadium is one of the best grounds in the country and it’s great to have more domestic cricket matches played here in Townsville,” Cr Hill said.

“Players and officials from both domestic and international teams have previously noted the high standard of the playing field at our venue, and we can arguably boast one of the best cricket facilities outside of a capital city.

“Spectators watching the JLT Cup fixtures in Townsville this year will be able to enjoy our brilliant venue in a relaxed and unique tropical climate,” she said.

The Kerrydale complex at Robina will welcome the Konica Minolta Queensland Fire in the opening round of Women’s National Cricket League matches in September.

It will be the first time the Fire will have played at the Bill Pippen Oval, which will undergo a major upgrade next year after the Gold Coast Dolphins secured $500,000 from the State Government’s Female Friendly Facilities Fund to upgrade change rooms for both players and officials at their home ground.

Queensland will take on defending champions NSW Breakers at Kerrydale on Friday 21 September before switching to the Allan Border Field where they will take on the ACT Meteors on Sunday 23 September.

In the same playing window, Tasmania will also play at Bill Pippen Oval when they take on NSW on Sunday 23 September while the ACT and Tasmania will meet at Allan Border Field on Friday 21 September.

The Australian Women’s team will also base themselves at Kerrydale earlier in September as part of their ICC World T20 Cup build-up for the tournament in November in the West Indies.

The Queensland Bulls, the reigning JLT Sheffield Shield Champions, will play four first class matches at the Gabba this summer, with one Shield game at Allan Border Field.

There will be six rounds of the Shield competition prior to the KFC Big Bash League, with four to be staged after the tournament concludes. The Shield Final will be held from Thursday 28 March and will be broadcast on FOX Sports.

Meanwhile the Toyota Futures League 2nd XI competition will introduce a mini T20 carnival during the KFC T20 Big Bash League.

The Queensland Academy of Sport will feature in the four-day tournament from 28-31 January which will be held in Sydney and Perth and feature a CA Under-19 team.

Allan Border Field will also host an international tour match on Wednesday 14 November when a CA XI will play South Africa at Allan Border Field in a T20 match ahead of the limited overs series between Australia and the Proteas that will feature the first International match played at the Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium on Saturday 17 November.

JLT One Day Cup – Queensland Matches & Finals

Sun, 16 Sept           Qld v Vic               Riverway Stadium (Townsville, 10am)

Sat, 22 Sept            Qld v Tas              Riverway Stadium (Townsville, 10am)

Tues, 25 Sept          SA v Qld                Hurstville Oval (Sydney, 9:30am)

Fri, 28 Sept             WA v Qld             Hurstville Oval (Sydney, 9.30am)

Mon, 1 Oct              NSW v Qld           Drummoyne Oval (Sydney, 2pm, FoxSports)

Finals Series

Wed, 3 Oct               QF1 - TBC - 3RD v - TBC - 6TH North Sydney Oval (2pm, FoxSports)

Thurs, 4 Oct              QF2 - TBC - 4TH v - TBC - 5TH Drummoyne Oval (2pm, FoxSports)

Sat, 6 Oct                 SF1 - TBC - 1ST/2ND* v  Winner QF1/QF2* Drummoyne Oval (2pm FoxSports)

Sun 7 Oct          SF2 - TBC - 1ST/2ND*  v SF2 - TBC - Winner QF1/QF2*   CitiPower Centre (Junction Oval) (Melbourne, 10.30am, FoxSports)

Wed, 10 Oct    FINAL    TBC - Winner SF 1  v  TBC - Winner SF 2   CitiPower Centre (Junction Oval) (Melbourne, 10.30am, FoxSports)

 

JLT Sheffield Shield – Queensland Matches & Final

Tue, 16 Oct –  Fri, 19 Oct               Queensland v Tasmania                 Gabba

Thurs, 25 Oct – Sun 28 Oct           SA v Queensland     Adelaide Oval

Sat, 3 Nov – Tues, 6 Nov                 Queensland v WA      Allan Border Field

Fri, 16 Nov – Mon, 19 Nov            NSW v Queensland                 Manuka Oval

Tue 27 Nov – Fri, 30 Nov               Queensland v Victoria                    Gabba

Fri, 7 Dec – Mon, 10 Dec               Tas v Queensland          Blundstone Arena

Sat, 23 Feb – Tues, 26 Feb            Victoria v Queensland    CitiPower Centre

Sun 3 Mar – Wed, 6 Mar               Queensland v NSW                 Gabba

Mon, 11 Mar – Thurs, 14 Mar     Queensland v South Australia     Gabba

Wed, 20 Mar – Sat, 23 Mar          WA v Queensland                       WACA

FINAL:Thurs, 28 Mar – Mon, 1 Apr         

 

Women’s National Cricket League

Fri, 21 Sept          Queensland v New South Wales Bill Pippen Oval (GC)

Sun, 23 Sept       Queensland v ACT            Allan Border Field (BNE)

Fri, 9 Nov              Tasmania v Queensland                TCA Ground (HOB)

Sat, 10 Nov      Queensland v South Australia     TCA Ground (HOB)

Fri, 1 Feb    Victoria v Queensland    CitiPower Centre (Junction Oval) (MEL)

FINAL: Saturday, 9 February 2019