THE 2024/25 Sheffield Shield season has reached its halfway point, with all six states having played five matches apiece. They have another handful of fixtures remaining, with the triple-header starting on December 6 marking the competition’s final 2024 legs.

Picking up again in February 2025 before extending through to the late-March final, this year’s title race remains relatively open. Victoria currently tops the table with three wins, while defending champion Western Australia heads the trailing pack in search of a fourth-straight crown.

Queensland remains the only side without a win to date and next faces the in-form Vics. With plenty of old and new faces impressing on the Australian domestic scene, we take you through the state of play for the latest Shield season, what’s to come, and how it all impacts the Test squad.

STANDINGS

Records ordered Wins-Draws-Losses

1. Victoria (3-1-1, 27.06 points)
2. Western Australia (2-2-1, 23.2)
3. South Australia (2-2-1, 21.47)
4. Tasmania (1-2-2, 18.22)
5. New South Wales (1-2-2, 16.11)
6. Queensland (0-3-2, 12.31)

Win = 6 points | Draw/No Result/Tie = 1 point
Batting & Bowling bonus points also awarded

LEADING RUN SCORERS

MOST RUNS:

Hilton Cartwright (WA) – 466 runs @ 58.25 | 153 HS | 50 x2, 100 x1
Alex Carey (SA) – 452 runs @ 90.40 | 123* HS | 50 x1, 100 x2
Marcus Harris (VIC) – 404 runs @ 57.71 | 143 HS | 50 x3, 100 x1
Sam Konstas (NSW) – 383 runs @ 54.71 | 152 HS | 100 x2
Ben McDermott (QLD) – 382 runs @ 54.57 | 87 HS | 50 x5

TOP KNOCKS:

Jake Weatherald (TAS) – 186 (204) vs. QLD @ Allan Border Field
Hilton Cartwright (WA) – 153 (278) vs. TAS @ Bellerive Oval
Sam Konstas (NSW) – 152 (241) vs. SA @ Cricket Central
Angus Lovell (QLD) – 146* (314) vs. NSW @ Cricket Central
Marcus Harris (VIC) – 143 (179) vs. TAS @ Junction Oval

LEADING WICKET TAKERS

MOST WICKETS:

Jackson Bird (NSW) – 16 wickets @ 15.93 | 4W x1, 5W x1
Sam Elliott (VIC) – 16 wickets @ 20.75 | 4W x3
Joel Paris (WA) – 15 wickets @ 12.80 | 4W x1, 5W x 1
Cameron Gannon (WA) – 15 wickets @ 23.73 | 5W x1
Nathan McAndrew (SA) – 14 wickets @ 20.50 | 4W x1, 5W x1
Todd Murphy (VIC) – 14 wickets @ 27.71 | 4W x1
Matthew Kuhnemann (TAS) – 14 wickets @ 40.42 | 5W x1

BEST FIGURES (INNINGS):

Jackson Bird (NSW) – 7-46 (15) vs. SA @ Karen Rolton Oval
Lloyd Pope (SA) – 6-74 (30.5) vs. NSW @ Adelaide Oval
Mitchell Starc (NSW) – 6-81 (17.5) vs. VIC @ MCG
Joel Paris (WA) – 5-34 (20) vs. SA @ Adelaide Oval
Nathan McAndrew (SA) – 5-38 (18) vs. QLD @ Allan Border Field

BEST FIGURES (MATCH):

Jackson Bird (NSW) – 11-111 (32.3) vs. SA @ Karen Rolton Oval
Nathan McAndrew (SA) – 8-93 (37) vs. QLD @ Allan Border Field
Tom Whitney (QLD) – 8-119 (30) vs. SA @ Allan Border Field
Nathan Lyon (NSW) – 8-141 (63.3) vs. SA @ Cricket Central
Brody Couch (WA) – 7-83 (29.3) vs. TAS @ WACA Ground

TEST SQUAD RAMIFICATIONS

While everything coming out of the Aussie camp after their 295-run loss to India in the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test seemed resistant to change, plenty may be on the horizon.

A fresh Josh Hazlewood injury has seen Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett added to the squad, while question marks over Mitch Marsh‘s fitness led to Beau Webster‘s inclusion.

Scott Boland has been pegged as the likely replacement for Hazlewood and is already in the squad, but has only a couple of first class games under his belt this season.

Abbott, meanwhile, has taken 13 wickets in just two Sheffield Shield games to date amid Australian white ball commitments. He has done so at an average of 19.84 with best figures of 5-62.

Doggett earned his second Test squad call-up after touring the UAE in the 2018 series against Pakistan. He recently took 6-15 for Australia A against India and has 11 Shield wickets to his name in 2024/25.

Arguably the Shield’s best player over the last two seasons, though, has been Webster. The Tasmanian allrounder has proven a game-winner with bat and ball as recently as his last Shield outing.

No confirmation has yet been made on Hazlewood’s replacement despite Boland’s presence, while the short turnaround between Adelaide and Brisbane may open the door for Webster to relieve Marsh and debut.

In the batting stakes, squad member Josh Inglis earned his spot with 297 runs at 99 for WA, including two centuries. Meanwhile, the likes of Marcus Harris (404 runs at 57.71) and Sam Konstas (383 at 54.71) continue to put pressure on the opening spot acquired by Nathan McSweeney.

Most recently, Konstas posted 107 for the Prime Minister’s XI against an Indian attack missing only Jasprit Bumrah. Meanwhile, Cameron Bancroft has fallen away badly, but found form with an unbeaten 105 against SA. That innings makes up most of his 138 total runs in eight innings.

Australian selectors will also be looking towards the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in January-February 2025. While batters suited to subcontinental conditions like Glenn Maxwell may get a look-in, spinners are likely make up most of the discussions.

Adam Zampa was controversially selected for New South Wales’ next match despite not training with the Blues, ahead of emerging youngster Tanveer Sangha. The uncapped leggie is renowned for his white ball exploits, but remains keen on receiving his first baggy green.

The likes of Todd Murphy, Matt Kuhnemann, and Mitch Swepson have all played roles in recent subcontinental tours. Murphy and Kuhnemann are tied on 14 Shield wickets this season, with the latter bowling more overs than all comers.

Swepson lays claim to 13 wickets, taking up a similar workload to Kuhnemann. Perhaps a left-field option is West Australian tweaker Corey Rocchiccioli, who has been an integral to the reigning Shield champions. He has 13 Shield poles at 40.48 this year.

REMAINING FIXTURES

December 6-9:
New South Wales vs. Western Australia @ SCG, Sydney
Victoria vs. Queensland @ MCG, Melbourne
Tasmania vs. South Australia @ Bellerive Oval, Hobart

February 8-11:
Tasmania vs. Victoria @ Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Queensland vs. New South Wales @ The Gabba, Brisbane
Western Australia vs. South Australia @ WACA Ground, Perth

February 18-21:
New South Wales vs. Victoria @ SCG, Sydney
Queensland vs. Western Australia @ The Gabba, Brisbane
South Australia vs. Tasmania @ Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

March 6-9:
Victoria vs. South Australia @ TBC
Tasmania vs. Queensland @ Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Western Australia vs. New South Wales @ WACA Ground, Perth

March 15-18:
South Australia vs. Queensland @ Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide
Western Australia vs. Victoria @ WACA Ground, Perth
Tasmania vs. New South Wales @ Bellerive Oval, Hobart

THE FINAL

1st vs. 2nd
March 26-29 @ TBC

It’s a straightforward format for finals in Australian first class cricket. The two teams with the most home-and-away points will meet in a one-off final to decide who takes home the 2023/24 Sheffield Shield title. The minor premier (first place) earns hosting rights for the fixture starting on Wednesday March 26.