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Cricket Australia announces four Sheffield Shield matches to be played in Adelaide hub to start season

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Bonnie RaynorThe West Australian
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Western Australia will hit the road to begin the summer of cricket after Cricket Australia announced the first four Sheffield Shield matches will be played in an Adelaide hub.

The announcement confirms the widely-known adjusted fixture and provides welcome clarity to broadcasters and fans, with the regular season usually beginning in mid-September.

All six teams will be camped in South Australia, while the Victorians are required to serve a mandatory 14-day quarantine period ahead of their first match.

WA will commence their red-ball season with a clash against last year’s cellar dwellers, South Australia, on October 10 at Karen Rolton Oval.

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Their second fixture sees them face off against Queensland from October 19 at Park 25.

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Their remaining two games will be played against reigning champions New South Wales and Tasmania respectively.

Shaun Marsh of the Warriors bats during day two of the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Western Australia.
Camera IconShaun Marsh of the Warriors bats during day two of the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Western Australia. Credit: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

WA are hopeful captain Mitch Marsh will be fit to play towards the latter stages of the hub stint after he suffered a tournament-ending ankle injury in the IPL.

Marsh may join his teammates in Adelaide upon his return from Dubai, should he fail to receive a quarantine exemption which would allow him in to his home state.

"We are working with Mitch’s IPL franchise to arrange travel back to Australia where he will quarantine for two weeks while continuing his rehabilitation,” a Cricket Australia statement said.

"At this early stage, we are aiming for Mitch to return to play through the Marsh Sheffield Shield competition, prior to being available for Australian selection for the upcoming summer."

Following the completion of round four, it’s expected Australia’s white ball international players will hub in Brisbane to face off against India, while remaining players will return home ahead of the Big Bash League.

Due to Victoria’s quarantine regulations delaying their involvement in the competition’s start, their round one fixture against New South Wales will be played from November 17.

Following a drawn out pre-season, WA coach Adam Voges said his troops are more than ready to go.

“This will be a season like no other, we’re ready to go and are excited to get the competition underway,” Voges said.

“The guys have done a mountain of work over the past few months and are looking forward to playing Shield cricket.

“Our squad has a great mixture of youth and experience and we feel well-prepared heading into the season.”

FULL FIXTURE:

Round 1

October 10-13: South Australia v Western Australia, Karen Rolton Oval

October 10-13: Queensland v Tasmania, Park 25

*November 17-20: New South Wales v Victoria, TBC

Round 2

October 19-22: South Australia v Tasmania, Karen Rolton Oval

October 19-22: Western Australia v Queensland, Park 25

October 22-25: Victoria v New South Wales, Adelaide Oval No. 2

Round 3

October 30-November 2: New South Wales v Western Australia, Karen Rolton Oval

October 30-November 2: Victoria v Tasmania, Park 25

October 30-November 2: South Australia v Queensland, ACH Group Stadium, Glenelg

Round 4

November 8-11: Queensland v Victoria, Karen Rolton Oval

November 8-11: Western Australia v Tasmania, Park 25

November 8-11: South Australia v NSW, ACH Group Stadium, Glenelg

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