Cricket Victoria's 'work from the Shield' initiative faces industry criticism

It’s a wrong’un delivered by university students – and it has bamboozled employers.

Cricket Victoria’s “work from the Shield” initiative – to encourage more people to attend the Sheffield Shield – was warmly embraced by cricket-loving professionals working, or watching, on day two of Victoria’s game against South Australia at Junction Oval.

But industry groups want stumps to be drawn on the concept.

For $16 – $6 more than the $10 adult admission fee – workers can secure a desk with complimentary Wi-Fi and power and a free coffee, not to mention indoor and outdoor seating to watch former and future Test stars slug it out on the field. The entry fee also includes a raffle for the door prize – a Victorian one-day top that retails at $99.

Inspired by English county club Surrey, students in the Melbourne Cricket Education Academy, run in partnership by Cricket Victoria and RMIT University, proposed a trial for this week’s game between Victoria and South Australia.

Working at the cricket, or watching cricket while working, proved a hit – all 35 spaces in the main function room were taken by what appeared to be a predominantly male and younger demographic.

They saw South Australia reach 6-352, in reply to Victoria’s first innings total of 244. Spots have already been sold out for Friday.

But industry groups have treated the novel idea with as much disdain as Steve Smith does to a half-volley on his pads.

“They’ve successfully got state cricket on the front page of the paper in October – that’s a success, but success should not be seen as encouraging working from home from what is essentially an entertainment,” Australian Industry Group’s Victorian head Tim Piper.

Ironically, Piper has extensive history of working from the cricket, albeit as a former Shield correspondent for newswire provider AAP.

Piper said CV had attracted 35 more fans than they would have otherwise, “but I hope they’re self-employed and not being paid by Victorian employers to be there”.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said there were other ways for workers to keep on top of the cricket during office hours.

“This is a creative marketing plan from Cricket Victoria, and it has certainly got people talking about cricket,” the VCCI’s acting chief Amelia Bitsis said.

“For the cricket buffs out there, cricket is going to command their full attention, and we’d love to see Victoria beat South Australia. But you can’t watch every ball, and then claim work has your full attention.”

“Businesses are telling us they’re going to put the TV screens on the cricket in their staff rooms, to enable employees to watch during their breaks. That way they can have the best of both worlds.”

Workers at the cricket spoken to by this masthead said their productivity was more or less the same as if they had worked from home.

A university lecturer chose to work from the game as his tasks for the day included general admin and he did not have any meetings planned.

“I wouldn’t do my most serious work here,” he said, speaking on the condition of anonymity as he was not authorised by his boss to be at the cricket.

“It’s as good as my set-up at home. It’s quite a good working environment, and it’s a sport you can glance up for a few seconds a minute.”

Ed, a lawyer, was part of a group of four who traded the home office for a seat on the outdoor deck of the function room. One colleague had extra reason to crack open a can after lunch.

“I think he came down for a beer because he had a big win,” Ed said. “The rest are a bit more on the cricket nuffy side of things. Shield cricket needs something to keep it going and make it more interesting.”

Students Tom Graham and Sam McRobert said they had spent 70 per cent of their time studying.

“I’ll probably have it up on my TV at home,” McRobert said. “This is a much better alternative than sitting at my dining room table.”

Cricket Victoria chief Nick Cummins welcomed the publicity the trial had received – good and bad – especially from industry groups.

He said the trial was a success and is looking at continuing the initiative at all of Victoria’s Shield games held on weekdays, including matches at the MCG.

Though Cricket Victoria accepts working from the Shield will not be a revenue spinner, Cummins said it helped the organisation gain more exposure for state cricket.

“You’ve got to start somewhere, and this is a great start,” Cummins said. “In a couple of years, we might have hundreds. We might have a business club here. We might be able to do those sorts of things by just trying different things that help people find it easy to go to cricket that’s on midweek.”

As for grading the students’ project?

“In terms of an idea and execution and the outcome, and certainly the goal wasn’t to get publicity, but if you judge that then you’ve got to give them an A+, don’t you?” Cummins said.

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