Queensland team van broken into; playing equipment stolen
In one of the most bizarre incidents in cricket, playing members of the Queensland Sheffield Shield side had some part of their playing equipment stolen before their encounter with Tasmania, starting Thursday (October 7).
Before the rescheduled game at the Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide, the Brisbane-based state first-class team has had an unexpected hiccup, seeing their van got broken into and their kit gear being stolen in the daylight.
Jimmy Peirson, the Queensland wicketkeeper, is the one who confirmed the news on Sunday (October 3) via an Instagram post, containing image of the van with a broken window. Peirson confirmed he has had a couple of brand new bats stolen by the thieves, who did their thing while the van was parked outside the team hotel.
“Someone’s got to be the unlucky one,” Peirson wrote on his post. “If anyone sees a couple of brand new Gray Nic sticks floating around Adelaide can you let me know?”
Also Read: When Nathan Lyon’s Burnt Toast Led To Delay In A Sheffield Shield Game
Queensland involved in one of the most bizarre incidents seen in cricket.
Queensland reports kit gear steal to the police
Queensland didn’t waste much time in reporting the matter to the South Australia police, which is now investigating the steal using the CCTV footage available at the team hotel.
Here is Peirson’s Instagram post:
The shocking steal is not the first hiccup that the Queensland-Tasmania Sheffield Shield fixture has faced. The match, as is well know, was originally due to start last Tuesday (September 28) at the Ian Healy Oval. But had to be shifted outside Queensland when it emerged that the city of Brisbane has experienced four new Covid-19 positive cases.
Since Tasmania players opted out to fly back to Hobart immediately, the authorities had no option but to call off the fixture and reschedule it.
CA managed to find a suitable alternative window in the fixtures list for the Queensland-Tasmania game in Adelaide as, despite the restrictions, Queensland’s players and staff are free to enter South Australia without having to go through quarantine if they give one negative test on their arrival.
All of the Queensland and Tasmania playing contingent, ESPNcricinfo reported, gave negative tests and are declared safe to go ahead with their encounter.