For the standard entry price of just $16 per day (with discounted multi-day passes available), spectators will be permitted to bring laptops into the venue and set up in the function spaces of the Junction Oval, which sit at the top of the ground's newest grandstand and form part of Cricket Victoria's administrative base at the venue.
Seen below in an image from the Cricket Victoria website, the space seats approximately 200 people when fully utilised and will offer both complimentary wi-fi and mains power, as well as one complimentary hot beverage, to remote workers who wish to base themselves at the Junction Oval for the day whilst taking in the opening round of the 2026/27 Sheffield Shield season.
22-time County Championship winners Surrey first came up with the idea earlier this year when they set up temporary desks with working power and high-speed internet at various vantage points around The Oval in a bid to cash in on the growing hybrid work trend across London.
Its opening day was an immediate success with more than 6,000 spectators attending, albeit most of them not on the clock.
The season opens with a rematch of last season's final, during which South Australia retained their crown with a 56-run victory at the same venue, spearheaded by outstanding match figures of 6-70 from fast bowler Henry Thornton.
Victoria will not be at full strength with Scott Boland and wicketkeeper Sam Harper part of Australia's Test team in South Africa, whilst captain Will Sutherland and spin bowler Todd Murphy are in India for an Australia A tour.
Peter Handscomb will step in as captain, having been recalled from the Australia A tour along with Fergus O'Neill and Campbell Kellaway, both of whom are an outside chance of Test debuts this summer if they can make a case in the six rounds of competition that precede Australia's first Test at home to New Zealand.
Reigning champions South Australia are missing Test pair Travis Head and Alex Carey as well as the trio of Spencer Johnson, Nathan McSweeney and Liam Scott, all of whom are with the Australia A team.
Two-time Test player Brendan Doggett will play alongside opening batter Jake Weatherald, who was recently dropped from Australia's Test team in favour of Matt Renshaw.
The other two Round 1 games see New South Wales host Tasmania at Cricket Central in Sydney, before Western Australia welcome Queensland to the WACA Ground later in the day.
Aaron Murphy has been with Flashscore since 2018 and, as the founding editor of the Australian newsdesk, has reported on-site at several major events in Melbourne including the Australian Open, State of Origin, A-League, NBL and international cricket. You can read his pieces here and contact him on X or LinkedIn.
