AFL 'blocks' Cricket Australia's bid to play Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval

Cricket Australia has confirmed the Sheffield Shield final will not be played at Adelaide Oval, saying on its website the AFL had blocked use of the iconic venue.

The South Australian men's cricket team earned the right to host the five-day event, and the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA), along with Cricket Australia, had pushed for it to be brought forward and played at the state's premier ground.

But the proposed date change means the event would fall between two AFL games at the venue, prompting concerns that a drop-in pitch could compromise the safety of footballers.

Plans to get drop-in pitches reinstalled at Adelaide Oval following an AFL match on March 22 were being led by state premier Peter Malinauskas in the hope SA could host the final at Adelaide Oval from March 24-28.

On its website, Cricket Australia said the venue would then have been football-ready again for another AFL match on March 30.

"But ultimately the AFL, which has rights to the ground from March 15 each year, had the final say amid concerns over player safety," the website said.

In a statement, Cricket Australia chief executive officer Todd Greenberg confirmed the five-day match would instead be played at Karen Rolton Oval, beginning March 26.

"We are disappointed South Australia has been prevented from hosting the Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval," he said.

"The Sheffield Shield final is a significant event for Australia's national sport, and we believe Adelaide Oval would have been the most appropriate venue.

"I would like to thank Premier Malinauskas for his advocacy in this matter and his passionate support of cricket and the South Australia Cricket Association which made an extremely compelling case to host the final at Adelaide Oval."

Cricket Australia and the state government were pushing to hold the final at Adelaide Oval. (ABC News: Che Chorley)

The AFL has been contacted for comment.

In a statement a spokesperson said the SA government was disappointed with the decision.

"The state government is grateful the AFL invested considerable time and effort in examining the proposal to play the Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval," the statement said.

"However, we are disappointed in the decision given it was the view of Adelaide Oval and its world-renowned head curator in Damien Hough, that it was feasible to host the Sheffield Shield final without compromising the standards required for all AFL fixtures.

"Nonetheless, the state government does appreciate the strong partnership it has with the AFL."

SA's Sheffield Shield drought Photo shows Cricket players from South Australia hold up a large shield among fans South Australia's Sheffield Shield drought has lasted almost 30 years, and is one of the nation's most prominent modern sporting dry spells.

SA government minister Tom Koutsantonis said that while the outcome was "disappointing", he was confident the final would still be successful.

"Both codes are important, both games are important," he said.

"It's not a matter or choosing one over the other, it's a matter of whether both could co-exist, and they couldn't."

Mr Koutsantonis said the proposal to hold the Shield final at Adelaide Oval wasn't "practical or feasible".

"This wasn't a matter of selfishness, this was a matter of practicality and logistics," he said.

The SA government has had a close relationship with the AFL in recent years, striking a deal to secure league's Gather Round until 2026.

Mr Koutsantonis said the government's relationship with the AFL was still "rock solid".

"They are great corporate citizens … and we support the work that they do," he said.

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