Stones may prompt venue change

ABOVE: Charlie Watts and Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones at the cricket in 2009

After almost two decades of trying to reach another Bupa Sheffield Shield final, a band of wrinkled rockers will shunt the long-suffering Redbacks from Adelaide Oval if they host this year's playoff.

The Rolling Stones have taken top billing at Adelaide Oval on the date of the Shield final, forcing the Redbacks to play the final at beachside Glenelg Oval, should they host the decider.

SA haven't reached a Shield final since their 1995-96 triumph. Since then, they finished bottom in nine of the 17 seasons, including the past four.

With two Shield rounds remaining, the Redbacks are in second spot.

But to mark the completion of a $530 million redevelopment of Adelaide Oval, The Rolling Stones are booked for a concert there on March 22 - the scheduled second day of the Shield final.

With AFL also returning to Adelaide Oval on March 29, cricket couldn't be played there until March 31 - a date deemed too late by Cricket Australia.

"We made this decision, along with Cricket Australia, in the best interests of our players and coaches so they could have clarity on the date and location of the match," SA Cricket Association chief executive Keith Bradshaw said on Wednesday.

BELOW: Mick Jagger the cricketer at 13 (Kent Online)

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