International cricket comes to Fairy Meadow in March

A STELLAR line up of international and state cricket players will converge on Fairy Meadow for the NSW Second XI versus the touring England Lions.

The free four-day match begins at 10am on Monday, March 2 at North Dalton Park where NSW Blues players will test themselves against some of England’s emerging cricketers.

Cricket NSW General Manager of Cricket Performance David Moore has praised the first-class facilities available to North Dalton Park, which will also host the Marsh Sheffield Shield Final in late March should the NSW Blues maintain their place at the top of the Shield table.

“I would like to thank Wollongong City Council, Destination Wollongong, Cricket Illawarra and the North Dalton Park Board for their ongoing support,” Moore said.

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery acknowledged the hard work ground staff have been doing to prepare and maintain North Dalton’s ground to such an elite standard in recent challenging conditions.

“There is a great appetite for grade and representative cricket in our city and region. We are keen to enjoy cricket of this calibre locally at North Dalton Park’s good pitch. We don’t have to travel all the way to Sydney for top cricket,” Cr Bradbury said.

The match is one of many high-class cricketing fixtures to be played at North Dalton in recent years with the venue hosting a variety of national cricket stars from both the Men’s and Women’s Big Bash League and having successfully hosted NSW in their Sheffield Shield matches in 2017 and 2018.

The England Lions match will be played in accordance with the International Cricket Council rules from 10am to 5.30pm daily over the 4 days with entry free to the public. Food and refreshments will be available with all attendees are encouraged to bring their own seating and sunscreen.