The Tasmanian Cricket Association is pleased to announce that a Field of Fame, to honour past, present and future Tasmanian cricketers is to be incorporated in the Development at Bellerive Oval.

The Field of Fame will initially honour twelve cricketers who have made substantial contributions to Tasmanian Cricket both on and off the field since Tasmania's inception into the Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup in 1977/78 season.

This will of course be no easy task, but one that should create much interest amongst cricket followers in the State.

The inductees are to be selected on the basis of their contribution to Tasmanian cricket. The criteria is not strictly statistically based but rather the process considers the worth and value each has made to cricket outcomes and progress since Tasmania was admitted to the Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup in 1977/78.

Following that time, 133 players have played for Tasmania in 1st Class cricket. Former selectors, Alan Carey, Barry Harper and Kel Coburn have accepted the responsibility of naming the first inductees to be included on the Field of Fame

The initial twelve will not necessarily represent a "first" team or the best twelve players Tasmania could theoretically field.

It is important to note that inductees to the Field of Fame do not have to be retired, in order to be considered for induction.

What a great opportunity for the Media and the sporting public to try and pick Tasmania's first 12 inductees and compare their selections to those of the nominated selectors.

The unveiling of The Field of Fame will be performed by former Australian Captain, Allan Border AO, at a ceremony to be held on Thursday, 14th November 2002 at 11.00am.

The formal announcement of the inductees will take place on Sunday 17th November 2002, the last day of the Australia "A" versus England Tour match here at Bellerive.

Those selected will be officially inducted to the Field of Fame at a dinner to be held at Bellerive Oval on Friday, January 10th, 2003. This invitation only dinner will launch the celebrations surrounding the Re-Opening of the Oval on January 11th during the Australia v England VB Series One-Day International.

Guests and dignitaries will travel from all over the World to be in attendance, which will add to the total package of January 11.

The Field of Fame will take the form of a small cricket field centered on a statue of David Boon, with a sequence of silhouette cricketers carrying plaques describing the careers of those inducted. The Field of Fame will be situated in the forecourt adjacent to the main northern entrance to Bellerive Oval and the Members Pavilion.

Well-known Tasmanian sculptor, Stephen Walker AM, has been commissioned to create the statue of David.

The unveiling will then be followed by a "David Boon Club" luncheon in the new Century Room at Bellerive Oval, with the guest speaker being Mike Coward, who is widely regarded as the most influential and knowledgeable cricket writer in Australia.

© 2002 Tasmanian Cricket Association

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.