MITCH’S PITCH
Legend backs bid for Riverway lights
RETIRED Test tearaway Mitchell Johnson believes Townsville is capable of hosting the Australian cricket team or a Big Bash fixture in the future if the lighting issues at Riverway Stadium are solved. Johnson, who grew up in Townsville and took 313 wickets in 73 Tests, is adamant the sport can always do more to take the game to regional centres. Townsville Cricket had intended to bid for a Test match between Australia and Bangladesh midway though this year, but those hopes were dashed when the tour was scrapped.
Cairns has hosted Australia Tests against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in winter in 2003 and 2004 respectively, and Johnson said Townsville had the potential to do the same.
Townsville hosted three JLT Cup state one day games last week, but Riverway must improve its lighting if it is to be any hope of securing higher profile games.
Johnson, 36, announced his retirement from cricket last month and has joined Fox Cricket as an expert commentator for the summer.
“I know I’ve played there with Australia A in the past and in Darwin, if the facilities are right I don’t see why not,” Johnson said.
“To have the Queensland cricketers come up there recently, the possibility of having the Australian team there would really boost cricket, I think.
“Possibly a day- night match there would be the perfect scenario.
“In the summer it gets pretty hot there, but it’s not like those cricketers aren’t used to thoses conditions.
“It ( lights) would add another dimension and Cricket Australia would definitely look at it a bit more if it’s set up for it.”
Riverway Stadium has been a home for Australian Rules Football and cricket at local, regional, state, and national levels since its development in 2007 but it does not have television- friendly lights, meaning big matches cannot be played at night.
About five years ago, lighting was costed at $ 10 million but it is understood with new technology would cost less today.
Government funding would likely be needed to entice a Big Bash franchise to take a game to Townsville, as teams would have to give up a large portion of gate takings due to the venue’s smaller capacity.
But Johnson insists it would be a worthwhile exercise to help grow the game in regional areas.
“They can make that sacrifice if they want the future of the game to grow,” he said.
“They talk about grassoots all the time, Cricket Australia, and the states, let’s get serious about it.
“They’re slowly getting there, but there’s still room for improvement.
“I remember at Riverway when I was a young kid being a ball boy at the Super Eights ( involving state teams) when it came to Townsville ( in 1996), seeing Shane Warne and players like that.
“We speak all the time about how good it was for us young blokes playing cricket, to be able to feel like we were a part of it.
“We need to get out more often in the community doing coaching clinics, and the country towns really support their sport.
“If footy is doing it ( with the new Townsville stadium in 2020) and they’ve got the facilities and getting big matches up there, cricket needs to do the same.”