South Australia looks to end 29-year Sheffield Shield drought

ABC NEWS (Australia)

South Australia will wait until the last moment tomorrow before revealing its team for the Sheffield Shield final against Queensland. The players are fully aware the state is holding its breath as the team looks to end a 29-year drought.

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00:00It's no Adelaide Oval, but Karen Rolton-Oval has got a major facelift for the Big Shield

00:08final.

00:09They'll be pretty busy here right until first thing tomorrow morning.

00:13What six days ago we knew it was going to be here, I don't think there's been much sleep

00:16in six days.

00:17Nearly $200,000 have been spent lifting the capacity to 10,000 after the Adelaide Oval

00:24was declared off-limits by the AFL.

00:27That'll be forgotten once the first ball is bowled, with South Australia looking to end

00:31a near three-decade drought with a team sporting plenty of adopted locals who desperately want

00:38the coveted trophy.

00:39We've been given an opportunity for a team that hasn't had heaps of success, but we've

00:44been able to build it over the last few years as a group and that'll just cap it off I think.

00:50Queensland has had to deal with controversy during its preparations, with test batter

00:55Ousmane Kawaja criticised by some within his own organisation for missing last week's

01:00draw against South Australia.

01:02If anything it'll probably improve his performance, he just loves it, the big moments, he's been

01:10an amazing player for a long time.

01:11The match pits two good mates against each other, with McSweeney a former Queenslander.

01:16It's been great for me, my game, when we're out there tomorrow though we're definitely

01:22not mates.

01:23I'm very proud of him, but like you said tomorrow there's going to be no friendly chat, it's

01:27going to be all game face.

01:28South Australia has tough calls to make on its bowling line-up, with leg spinner Lloyd

01:33Pope already set to miss.

01:35Karen Volton-Obel's typically a tough grounder ball spinner and as you said the wicket has

01:40a little bit more moisture in it so hence we're going with an extra bowler and it's

01:45a tough decision.

01:46The match starts at 10.30 tomorrow morning and is free for spectators.

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