Gold Coast Dolphins president Jeff Pfaff and curator Rick Shenton praised for Big Bash League win

TWO Gold Coasters have been singled out as instrumental figures in securing Metricon Stadium’s place on the Big Bash League calendar this summer.

TWO Gold Coasters have been singled out as instrumental figures in securing Metricon Stadium’s place on the Big Bash League calendar this summer.

Rick Shenton, who has been a curator at the Gold Coast Dolphins for more than a decade, constructed the drop-in pitches for the BBL swing.

Shenton drew praise from Brisbane Heat WBBL and Dolphins all-rounder Sammy-Jo Johnson for his week in, week out work at Bill Pippen Oval which was quickly seconded by Dolphins president Jeff Pfaff.

“He is the best in the business around here,” Pfaff said.

Rick Shenton (left) was also key figure in giving the centre wicket block at Bill Pippen Oval a facelift in 2013. Picture: Kit Wise

“Rick has built them (the drop-in pitches) and then looked after them for six to eight weeks after and then will hand them over (to the Metricon Stadium staff).

“He came up with a design with his engineer and then did all of the construction work. He has laid all of the practice wickets also.

“It’s the same soil we use (at Bill Pippen Oval) and it’s the same soil that they use at the Gabba and Allan Border Field so hopefully we will get a wicket like the Gabba – hard and fast and bouncy, which is conducive to good cricket.”

Ben Cutting will be among the Heat batsmen lining up to clear the fence at Carrara. Picture: Richard Gosling

Pfaff himself was credited for his part behind the scenes in making the breakthrough BBL fixtures a reality.

“He has been unbelievable in the role that he has played to actually bind all of this together,” Heat general manager Andrew McShea said of Pfaff.

“He should be really proud of the role he has played to bring this to life. He has given all of us a nudge over the last three years to make sure that we stay on track and has done an amazing job.

The Big Bash League is coming to Metricon Stadium this summer. Sammy-Jo Johnson, Matt Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Cutting and Jess Jonassen. Picture: Richard Gosling

“The cricket community on the Gold Coast have wanted it, they have done their job and hopefully we have all done ours and now it’s about getting the people of the Gold Coast to turn out and support it.”

Pfaff said the announcement had been well received.

“It’s good for the Gold Coast. It has been a few years we have been going at it so yeah, it’s awesome,” he said.

The Metricon fixtures include: Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes (December 22), Brisbane Heat v Sydney Sixers (January 1) and Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder (January 5).