Opposition leader Rebecca White used the game as a platform to promise $550,000 toward the Longford Recreation Ground master plan, if Labor is elected. It follows a $1.1 million pledge from Northern Midlands Council for the first stage of the project.

The master plan would ensure Longford Cricket Club was able to have a permanent presence at the facility, while also creating better space for local families and community groups. Longford Cricket Club president Phil Dodd said a growth in the number of players at the club, including the addition of a female team, meant the clubrooms were no longer sufficient.

“This update is not just important for the future of club, but also the community,” he said.

“It means we don’t have to pack everything up and vacate for six months of the year, and it would allow us to expand our junior and female programs.”