On a hot, summer day in February, 2015, more than 4000 people came to enjoy the first day of the Sheffield Shield in Wagga.
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NSW played Victoria, and won convincingly, motels noted an increase in patronage and people travelled from right across the Riverina to view the game over a few days.
The players, including Riverina-raised Nathan Lyon, praised the crowd for their behaviour and their numbers, saying at the time that it was unlikely that a crowd of that magnitude would attend a Sheffield Shield match in Sydney.
Fast forward three years and the city was poised to host another match, this time between NSW and Tasmania, until it was announced on Wednesday by Wagga City Council that it would no longer be held in Wagga.
Council’s general manager Peter Thompson said it was disappointing to have to give up the opportunity but council did not have a specialist curator on staff and, therefore, was unable to get the pitch to a suitable standard.
For once, money was not an issue.
Funds were there, the deal was struck but one person, or the lack of that person, means Wagga yet again misses out.
No one expects council to fill such a niche role permanently but is it too much to ask for them to perhaps temporarily employ or outsource someone?
If everything else was in place, it seems only logical that someone could be brought in to ensure the pitch is where it needs to be.
It seems a much better option than cancelling the game here completely.
It’s disappointing for the city’s tourism and economy but more disappointing for the city’s children, who so rarely get to see their sporting heroes play in their own backyard.
It’s also disappointing to think that the City of Good Sports, which has produced top cricketing talent, has to wait potentially another year for a match of this calibre.
Council is hoping they will be able to secure the game for next year and seems confident they will be successful.
Let’s hope they get their golden ducks in a row soon.