AUSTRALIA will take on New Zealand this weekend at Adelaide Oval in the world's first day-night cricket test.
But another score between the two traditional rivals will be settled on the Village Green in the Members' Area.
Sports Shear Australia Association with support from Australian Wool Innovation have been invited by SACA to showcase shearing to their members with two top Aussie shearers up against two talented Kiwi born shearers who have been working in sheds in Australia.
In the first three days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday - Australians Shannon Warnest, Willalooka, and John Dalla, Warooka, will put in the long blows against the NZ duo of Rick Chilcott, Lucindale, and Imran Sullivan, Kangaroo Island, in a "Shearing Test."
It will take place on a two-stand, portable shearing trailer in the dinner break between 6.20pm to 7pm each day with three or four sheep shorn each day per team.
In the shorter tea break from 4-4.30pm Mr Dalla will demonstrate the blade shearing talents which saw him recently claim his seventh national title.
Sports Shear Australia Association chairman Steph Brooker-Jones says it is an exciting opportunity to promote shearing to the "wider public" with members from both city and country areas. "Shearing has a long history like cricket in Australia," she said.
"It is also a chance to promote wool and careers in agriculture, and given the baggy green cap has wool in it it makes sense." The event coincides with Sports Shear Australia's renewed push to have competitive shearing recognised as a sport.
They are preparing another submission for the Australian Sporting Commission to have the shearing competitions held across Australia, attracting about 2500 shearers, recognised. SACA corporate communications manager Calum Young said it was working hard on unique entertainment for its members and expected upwards of 15,000 members a day to be at the ground. "We are doing anything we can to make cricket exciting, and shearing is quintessential to Australia and New Zealand," he said.
All the action will be commentated by Sports Shear SA chairman David Brooker and AWI shearing industry development coordinator Jim Murray.