Print this pageAAMI Stadium might host Test cricket next summer to keep Adelaide on the world cricket calendar while Adelaide Oval is closed for major redevelopment.
But the SANFL, managers of football's headquarters at West Lakes, says it will not approach Cricket Australia for any cricket matches unless prompted by the SA Cricket Association.
Adelaide Oval will be off limits for all major sporting events from April when work is expected to start on an $82 million project to redevelop the cricket ground's western grandstands. This could cost SA's cricket fans the chance to see a Test match, three one-day internationals and a Twenty-20 international during the 18-month construction project.
SANFL chief executive Leigh Whicker yesterday said the 51,515-seat AAMI Stadium could be made available for cricket only if SACA asks the football league to make a bid.
"We would only look at it if the SACA came to us with the thought of using AAMI Stadium to keep cricket in Adelaide," said Whicker. "We're not into going behind people's backs to take events from their venues to AAMI Stadium."
SACA chief executive Michael Deare yesterday said building plans for Adelaide Oval would be aimed at keeping the ground available for international cricket, particularly in late January 2009.
The SACA would take AAMI Stadium as an option to Cricket Australia in March or April when the cricket program for the 2008-09 summer is ratified.
Deare said AAMI Stadium would be the first option considered if Adelaide Oval was not available for international cricket.
He said SACA would not ask for the SANFL to offer AFL games to Adelaide Oval in return.
"We are very pleased to hear that we can now include the SANFL option in the mix," he said.
"Everyone agrees SA must come first and we welcome the SANFL's co-operation."
It is understood the SACA board last month considered approaching the SANFL to ask of the availability of AAMI Stadium for international cricket events.
This would ensure SACA members are not deprived international cricket for their membership in 2008-09.
Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland will be in Adelaide on Friday when he is expected to be briefed on the Adelaide Oval redevelopment.
But the SANFL says it will not ask Sutherland to tour AAMI Stadium to consider it as an alternative Test venue unless the SACA approved.
"Right now, it is not a priority for the SANFL to host cricket," said Whicker. "We're happy to make it an agenda item if the SACA asks.
"But we also have to consider that in the time between football seasons we spend three months reconditioning the turf at AAMI Stadium to provide the best possible surface for AFL football."
The state government, which has committed $25 million to Adelaide Oval's rebuilding projects, might also ask the SANFL to take on the international cricket commitments lost to the oval during the redevelopment process.
This would be to ensure significant tourism dollars and international television exposure is not lost to Adelaide.
AAMI Stadium's previous hosting of cricket matches was in the rebel days of Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket in the late 1970s when the arena was used for "Super Tests" and the WSC one-dayers with Australia, the West Indies and the Rest of the World.
The cricket pitch was developed in AAMI Stadium's car park and dropped into the middle of the football square. The glasshouse used to grow the cricket decks remains at West Lakes.
Courtesy of The Advertiser
Story by Michelangelo Rucci