Cricket
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ROBERTSON Oval looks very different to when Trevor Chappell played there in the 1980s, but he believes it will be a great venue for the Sheffield Shield.
Wagga will play host to the match between NSW and Victoria from February 15-18, with some of the biggest names in Australian cricket expected to play.
The former Test batsman was in Wagga as part of a three-day tour of the Riverina, looking to create more interest in the junior ranks a big summer of cricket approaches.
Chappell played on Robertson Oval in a Country Cup match for NSW, and was impressed with the ground's transformation.
"It's changed quite a bit for the better - I'm sure they didn't have the picket fence in those days, there were a lot of trees on one side and the lights certainly weren't here," he said.
"The outfield looks good and I had a look at the wicket (on Thursday) and it looks like it would be quite a good track.
"From memory the track we played on in the 1980s was a pretty good batting wicket."
Part of a family synonymous with cricket playing alongside brother Ian and Greg and following in the footsteps of grandfather Vic Richardson, Chappell believes bringing Shield matches to the country is a great way to expand the prestigious competition.
"It's good to play in different areas as you are never going to fill the SCG anymore for a Shield game, if they have ever played it for a Shield game," he said.
"It's going to give the players the opportunity to play in a bigger crowd, I would expect, particularly if some of the bigger names are there."
With the last Riverina Football League game played at the ground on Sunday, preparations are already underway for the cricket season.
As Chappell and NSW fast bowler Gurinder Sandhu were at the ground, the wickets were being mowed for the big season ahead.
Sandhu is hoping to earn a place in the NSW team to play in the Sheffield Shield.
The towering fast-medium bowler has played nine first-class games, but has struggled to hold a place in the team.
After a breathtaking start to his career which saw him named the Steve Waugh Medallist as the Blues' best player in 2012-13, the 21-year-old is taking a new approach to his game this year.
"Hopefully I can get an opportunity to play in the Shield team whether be due to some injury or guys with higher honours," he said.
"I started off well in the Ryobi Cup, as it was called last season, but come Shield season I was trying to get a wicket every ball because that's what happened the year before. But how it happened was because I was bowling good line and length, bowling tight and creating pressure, so hopefully if I get a go this year I can come back to that."
Chappell and Sandhu were also on hand as the ground as two new sightscreens were unveiled.
Wagga City Council, Transport for NSW and Cricket NSW sourced the sightscreens which feature the "What's Your Plan B?" message encourages people to find an alternative way to get home after a few drinks, instead of driving.