February 2010 - Queensland Cricket

FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE (continued) 3From page 2A number of people havequestioned the introductionof extra rules andregulations in regards tocrowd control in recentyears, but the incidentsin Perth two weekendsago highlight why theyare in place.It is our obligation to ensureboth our spectatorsand players are providedwith the safest environmentpossible, and theground invasions are agross violation of that.Immediately after theevents in Perth we hadthe ICC reminding usthey had the power todetermine whether yourvenue is adequate tohost international cricket.It is only two years sincewe had a streaker hereat the Gabba run out tothe middle and into ‘Roy’Symonds, and we don’twant to see the overseassituation of some subcontinentcountrieswheregroundsare ringedby barbedwire.The StateGovernmentinQueenslandhassupportedthe needfor controlsand a$4000 fineis in placefor ground invaders. It isno one’s right to breakinto the athlete’s workplace.We have more internationalone-dayers tocome this year, withCricket Australia schedulingSri Lanka to play aCommonwealth Seriesmatch at the Gabba inearly November. We alsohost the fifth of sevenone-day matches againstEngland in late January2011. The Bulls get toplay a one-dayer againstSri Lanka in late Octoberas a warm-up for the internationals,and I will becurious at the responseto the earlier-than-usualgames.The October-Novemberpart of the cricket fixtureis under-utilised in myhumble opinion and is anopportunity to grab theattentionof thesportingpubliclooking fortheircricket‘fix’ comingout ofthe footballseason.Cricketneeds tobe whettingtheappetite of cricket andsport lovers at that timeof year, and we musthave the right product todo that.On the interstate front,to rack up our fourthstraight outright win overNSW last week was anice feeling, althoughconversely it hurts whenbeaten in the one-dayersin a similar fashion.Nonetheless, our fourdaystuff has been veryheartening - the team isprogressing very well andindividuals are reallymaking their mark at interstatelevel. That ispleasing to all involved.It is also fair to say thatfrom what we’ve seen inthe Under 17s and 19s,and KFC T20 Big Bash,there’s a couple morebright young playerspushing hard for recognitionat the highest Statelevel.We have now got tomake sure with all thatmomentum behind theBulls that we finish offthe season properly.There are still six weeksto go - this is the toughperiod where they needto show their mettle.QUEENSLAND CRICKET - MAJOR CORPORATE PARTNERS