Tigers denied opportunity to complete fairytale rise as Cricket Australia cancel final round

For the first time since World War II the Sheffield Shield competition will conclude early, after Cricket Australia called off the last round of matches due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Charlie Wakim in action for the Tigers against NSW. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

TASMANIA’S last ditch effort to reach the Sheffield Shield final has disappeared after Cricket Australia called off the final round of competition scheduled to start this week.

The Tigers were due to meet Victoria at Junction Oval from Thursday but the governing body announced this morning it had cancelled the last three roster matches due to the coronavirus pandemic.

CA initially made the decision to block fans from attending the games last Friday, but have now made the call to end the season prematurely to limit travel.

After back to back home victories against Western Australia and ladder leader NSW, Tasmania had climbed from the bottom of the table to fourth, 6.24 points behind the second-placed Bushrangers.

Jordan Silk hits the winning runs on day 3 against NSW (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

The side held slim hopes of leapfrogging both Victoria and Queensland, needing to defeat the Bushrangers and pick up 0.25 more bonus points, as well as rely on South Australia denying the Bulls maximum points.

MORE CRICKET

OPENER BOUNCES BACK TO FORM

However the state is now out of the running to finish in the top two, should the final proceed.

“All state CEOs were consulted before these decisions were made, and safe to say there were no objections,” Cricket Tasmania chief Dominic Baker said.

“Cricket is part of the national fabric, but there is no question that we have a greater role to play in helping limit the spread of coronavirus in every way we can.

“We will continue to work closely with Cricket Australia and Tasmanian health agencies as the impacts in our state become more visible.”

Nathan Lyon in action against Tasmania in the last round of Sheffield Shield (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

It is the first time since the second World War the Shield competition has concluded before the scheduled finish.

A decision on whether the final, scheduled to start on March 27, will continue will be made in due course.

The decision follows the cancellation of the last two ODI matches between Australia and New Zealand — the third which was set to unfold at Blundstone Arena — and the postponement of Australian women’s tour of South Africa.

The Australian under 19s women’s tour of South Africa for the Women’s Emerging Tri-Series has also been cancelled, alongside the under 19s indigenous team’s T20 tour of New Zealand.

“At times like this, cricket must take a back seat for the greater good,” CA chief executive Kevin Roberts said.

“We have been in consultation with relevant government agencies, our own medical team and an infectious diseases expert for quite some time now, and we have taken all their advice into account in making these decisions.”