Central West Wranglers batsman Joel Gurney is feeling pretty disappointed after Cricket NSW announced the Plan B Regional Bash finals were to be moved from the Sydney Cricket Ground.
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The first three installments of the Country Cricket NSW Twenty20 competition have been capped with semi-finals and a grand final at the SCG, but this summer those games will be staged at North Sydney Oval.
“It’s an awesome achievement to even be a part of this competition and it’s my first time in the team, but we are all feeling disappointed more than anything because we want to play at the SCG,” Gurney said.
Cricket NSW confirmed the move on Tuesday morning, the rescheduling a forced squeeze after the closure of the next-door Allianz Stadium resulted in a backlog of fixtures needing to be played at the Moore Park precinct.
The SCG Trust determines what is played at Australia's oldest sporting stadium, with Cricket NSW just one of a handful of tenants that requires use of the ground.
Cricket NSW said it worked for months to try and fit the Regional Bash finals into the SCG’s packed calendar, but a date couldn’t be found.
Gurney said it was every cricketer’s dream to play at the SCG, where many of their heroes have played before.
“For Cricket NSW to roll over and take that away from us is disappointing, they haven’t fought to have us there, they haven’t made an effort,” he said.
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The original SCG finals date was December 2, but that was postponed in November. The new finals date is February 17, with the games to be played at North Sydney Oval.
Gurney hoped Cricket NSW would reconsider the schedule and find a spot for them to play.
“We’re happy to play whenever as long as it’s at the SCG.
“Don’t get me wrong, the North Sydney Oval is a massive part of the history of cricket and a beautiful venue but for players like Jameel Qureshi and myself, we have played Sydney Grade Cricket and already experienced that,” he said.
Gurney also made a point in saying that everyone wants to play at the SCG and to be in the competition with the top four teams competing and only one winner.
“That’s where we all strive to be, and now well, it’s a poor excuse a kick in the guts really.
“We were promised and it was taken right from under us, kicked to the curb,” he said.
The Wranglers have a squad of 15 and with an exciting group they’re anticipated to shake up the finals series, with Ryan Gurney, Ben Mitchell and Ben Sheehan in the top order there is set to be fireworks.
Gurney hoped the team were to perform at the SCG and remained positive Cricket NSW would have a change of heart.
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