Sheffield Shield

Cricket competition in Australia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Sheffield Shield is the domestic first-class cricket competition of Australia. The tournament is contested between teams representing the six states of Australia. The Sheffield Shield is named after Lord Sheffield.

Countries Australia
AdministratorCricket Australia
FormatFirst-class
First edition1892–93
Quick facts Countries, Administrator ...
Sheffield Shield
Tournament logo
Countries Australia
AdministratorCricket Australia
FormatFirst-class
First edition1892–93
Latest edition2025–26
Tournament formatDouble round-robin, then final
Number of teams6
Current champion South Australia (15th title)
Most successful New South Wales (47 titles)
Most runsDarren Lehmann (South Australia and Victoria)
13,635 runs
Most wicketsClarrie Grimmett (Victoria and South Australia)
513 wickets
TVCricket Network
Kayo Sports
Fox Cricket (selected matches)
WebsiteCricket Australia
2025–26 Sheffield Shield season
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Prior to the Shield being established, a number of intercolonial matches were played. The Shield, donated by Lord Sheffield, was first contested during the 1892–93 season, between New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. Queensland was admitted for the 1926–27 season, Western Australia for the 1947–48 season, and Tasmania for the 1977–78 season.

The competition is contested in a double-round-robin format, with each team playing every other team twice, i.e. home and away. Points are awarded based on wins, draws, ties and bonus points for runs and wickets in a team's first 100 batting and bowling overs, with the top two teams playing a final at the end of the season. Regular matches last for four days; the final lasts for five days.

The Sheffield Shield is supported by a Second XI reserves competition.

History

Origin of the shield

The Sheffield Shield as it appeared in 1989 with blue felt.

In 1891–92 the Earl of Sheffield was in Australia as the promoter of the English team led by W. G. Grace. The tour included three Tests played in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.

At the conclusion of the tour, Lord Sheffield donated £150 to the New South Wales Cricket Association to fund a trophy for an annual tournament of intercolonial cricket in Australia. The three colonies of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia were already playing each other in ad hoc matches. The new tournament commenced in the summer of 1892–93, mandating home and away fixtures between each colony each season. The three teams competed for the Sheffield Shield, named after its benefactor. A Polish immigrant, Phillip Blashki of Melbourne,[1] won the competition to design the trophy, a 36 in × 23 in (91 cm × 58 cm) silver shield.[2]

The competition therefore commenced some 15 years after Australia's first Test match.

The Sheffield Shield was originally run on a challenge system. The first match was played in Adelaide beginning on 16 December 1892, with South Australia facing New South Wales. South Australia secured victory, making them the inaugural holders of the Shield.[3]

Victoria then took possession after defeating South Australia on 4 January 1893. Later that month, on 30 January, the Australasian Cricket Council altered the format, deciding that the Shield would be awarded at the end of the season to the team with the best record. By the end of the season, Victoria had the strongest record and were confirmed as holders once more.[3]

Sponsorship and name changes

In 1999, the Australian Cricket Board (now Cricket Australia) announced a sponsorship deal which included renaming the Sheffield Shield to the Pura Milk Cup, then to the Pura Cup the following season.[4] Pura is a brand name of National Foods, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bega Cheese. The sponsorship increased total annual prize money to A$220,000, with the winners receiving A$75,000 and the runners up A$45,000.

The records of the "Pura Cup" era are considered a part of Sheffield Shield history, with the winning teams continuing to have their names engraved onto the original shield throughout the period.

On 16 July 2008 it was announced that Weet-Bix would take over sponsorship of the competition from the start of the 2008–09 season, and that the name would revert to the "Sheffield Shield" or the Sheffield Shield presented by Weet-Bix.[5] Weet-Bix is a breakfast cereal manufactured by Sanitarium.

In the 2019–20 season, Marsh & McLennan Companies took over the sponsorship for the competition as the Marsh Sheffield Shield. This followed Marsh & McLennan's acquisition of JLT, which had sponsored the competition since 2017.[6]

From the 2024-25 season, the Sheffield Shield has once again operated without a naming sponsor.[7]

Teams

Since 1977–78, all six states of Australia have fielded their own teams. Details of each team are set out below.

Before 1993, all states were known solely by their state names or cricket association titles. Queensland was the first to adopt a nickname when it became known as the ‘Bulls’ from 1993; and following the success of that, other states adopted nicknames from 1995. The nicknames have since mostly fallen out of official use.

More information Team name, Team nickname ...
Team name
Team nicknameHome ground/s[a]Inaugural seasonFirst titleLast titleShield titlesTeam captain/s
  New South WalesBlues
(1995–2022)

Cricket Central
Sydney Cricket Ground

 1892–931895–962019–2047 Jack Edwards
  QueenslandBulls
(1993–pres)

Allan Border Field
Brisbane Cricket Ground

 1926–271994–952020–219 Marnus Labuschagne
  South AustraliaRedbacks
(1995–2024)[8]

Adelaide Oval
Karen Rolton Oval

 1892–931893–942025–2615 Nathan McSweeney
  TasmaniaTigers
(1995–pres)

Bellerive Oval

 1977–782006–072012–133 Jordan Silk
  VictoriaBushrangers
(1995–2018)[9]

Junction Oval
Melbourne Cricket Ground

 1892–931892–932018–1932 Will Sutherland
  Western AustraliaWarriors
(1995–2019)[10]

Perth Stadium
WACA Ground

 1947–481947–482023–2418 Sam Whiteman
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  1. [a]
    Each team has used several venues to host matches. For a full list, see list of cricket grounds in Australia.

Venues

Below are the venues that hosted Sheffield Shield matches during the 2025–26 season.

More information Adelaide Oval, Allan Border Field ...
Adelaide Oval Allan Border Field Bellerive Oval Cricket Central The Gabba
Adelaide, South Australia Brisbane, Queensland Hobart, Tasmania Sydney, New South Wales Brisbane, Queensland
Capacity: 53,500 Capacity: 6,500 Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 42,000
Junction Oval Karen Rolton Oval Melbourne Cricket Ground Sydney Cricket Ground WACA Ground
Melbourne, Victoria Adelaide, South Australia Melbourne, Victoria Sydney, New South Wales Perth, Western Australia
Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 7,000 Capacity: 100,024 Capacity: 48,000 Capacity: 24,000
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Competition format

The Sheffield Shield on display in 2026.

Home and away season

In most years the competition has been contested in a double-round-robin format, with each team playing every other team twice, i.e., home and away.

Matches were timeless (i.e. played to an outright result, weather and schedule permitting) up to 1926–27. A four-day time limit has applied since 1927–28.[11]

Final

Since 1982–83, the top two teams after the home and away rounds have met in a final, played over five days at the home ground of the top-ranked team. Between 1982–83 and 2017–18, in the event of a draw or tie, the Shield was awarded to the top-ranked team.[11]

Since the 2018–19 summer, in the event of a draw or tie, the team which scores more first innings bonus points, based on the system used in regular season matches, wins the Shield.[12]

Exceptions

Although the above has been the standard season structure, for a variety of reasons, including war, pandemic and scheduling difficulties, the following exceptions have occurred:

  • South Australia had no home game with: Victoria in 1901–02 or 1903–04; either opponent in 1907–08; New South Wales in 1910–11.
  • Queensland and South Australia played only once (in South Australia) in 1926–27.
  • Western Australia played each team only once from their debut in 1946–47 until 1955–56 inclusive.
  • Tasmania played each team only once from their debut in 1977–78 until 1981–82 inclusive.
  • In 2019–20 the season was curtailed after nine rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No final was played in this season.[13][14]
  • The 2020–21 season was heavily affected by COVID-19 lockdowns, with QLD playing 9 games, Tasmania and South Australia 8, and Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria playing 7 each. Unusually for the Sheffield Shield, Victoria and New South Wales played each other 3 times during the home and away portion of the season.

Where the teams played an unequal number of games, their final points were calculated on a pro-rata basis.

In 1940–41, however, the Sheffield Shield was not contested but ten first-class “friendly” matches were played between the States for patriotic funds;[15] however financially these were unsuccessful.[16]

In the following season (1941–42), the Sheffield Shield again did not take place. Instead an “Interstate Patriotic Competition” was held, with all proceeds going to the war effort. Only one match was played (Queensland v NSW at the Gabba) before the competition was cancelled due to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.[17]

Points system

The current points system has been used since the 2016–17 season. The points are awarded as follows:[18]

Win: 6 points + bonus points
Tie: 3 points + bonus points
Abandoned or Draw: 1 point + bonus points
Loss: 0 points + bonus points

Bonus points may be earned during the initial 100 overs of each team's first innings, and are retained whatever the match outcome.

More information Result, Points ...
ResultPoints[19][a]
Bonus batting points0.01 for every run above 200 in the first 100 overs of each side’s first innings
Bonus bowling points0.1 for each wicket taken in the first 100 overs of each side’s first innings
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  1. [a]
    Bonus points example – If after 100 overs the score is 8/350, the batting team would receive 1.5 points ([350 − 200] × 0.01), and the bowling side would receive 0.8 points (0.1 for each wicket)
  • The number of outright wins and then the Quotient (a team's batting average divided by its bowling average) is used to separate teams which finish on an equal number of points.
  • Teams can be penalised points for failing to maintain an adequate over rate.

Previous systems

  • The Shield was initially envisaged as a match-by-match challenge trophy; it was originally determined on 4 January 1893 that it would first be awarded to the winner of the next inter-colonial match (which was, in fact, the fourth of the season), and then would pass in perpetuity to any team which defeated the holder of the trophy;[20] But on 30 January, it was decided instead to award the Shield to the team which won the most intercolonial matches across the season.[21]
  • The quotient has been used as a tie-breaker for teams on equal points since 1893–94.[22]
  • First innings points were introduced in 1932–33 and used until 1970–71.[23][24]
  • Bonus points for first innings batting and bowling were used from 1971–72 to 1980–81 inclusive. During the first 100 (eight-ball) overs of each side's first innings, a maximum of 10 batting bonus points could be attained. They were awarded for every 25 runs scored from 175 to 400 inclusive. A maximum of 5 bowling bonus points were available, initially upon capture of the second, fourth, sixth, eighth and last wickets. This was later changed to wickets 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 as batting teams often declared when 9 wickets down to deny the bowling side the additional bonus point. Teams were awarded an extra 10 points for an outright win.[25]
  • From 1981–82 to 2013–14 there were no bonus points. Teams were awarded 6 points for an outright win, and 2 points for drawing or losing after holding a first innings lead.[25]
  • When the modern bonus points system was introduced for the 2014–15 season, the bowling team received 0.5 points for taking the 5th, 7th and 9th wickets (a maximum 1.5 points). The bonus bowling points were modified to their current values for the 2016–17 season.[19]

Competition placings

Prior to 1982–83, the team finishing atop the ladder after the home-and-away season was declared the champion. A five-day Final was introduced that season, with first place hosting second. Until 2018–19, the visiting side had to win outright to claim the title, while the host was awarded the championship if the match ended in a draw or tie. From 2018–19 onwards, drawn or tied Finals are decided by first-innings bonus points, using the same system as the regular season.[12]

Further details including match scorecards are available at Cricinfo[26] and the Cricket Archive.[27]

1892/93–1925/26

Adelaide Oval during a 1902 Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and New South Wales.
More information Season, Winner ...
SeasonWinnerSecondThird
1892–93VictoriaNew South WalesSouth Australia
1893–94South AustraliaNew South WalesVictoria
1894–95VictoriaSouth AustraliaNew South Wales
1895–96New South WalesVictoriaSouth Australia
1896–97New South WalesSouth AustraliaVictoria
1897–98VictoriaSouth AustraliaNew South Wales
1898–99VictoriaNew South WalesSouth Australia
1899–1900New South WalesVictoriaSouth Australia
1900–01VictoriaNew South WalesSouth Australia
1901–02New South WalesVictoriaSouth Australia
1902–03New South WalesVictoriaSouth Australia
1903–04New South WalesVictoriaSouth Australia
1904–05New South WalesVictoriaSouth Australia
1905–06New South WalesVictoriaSouth Australia
1906–07New South WalesSouth AustraliaVictoria
1907–08VictoriaSouth AustraliaNew South Wales
1908–09New South WalesSouth AustraliaVictoria
1909–10South AustraliaNew South WalesVictoria
1910–11New South WalesSouth AustraliaVictoria
1911–12New South WalesVictoriaSouth Australia
1912–13South AustraliaNew South WalesVictoria
1913–14New South WalesSouth AustraliaVictoria
1914–15VictoriaNew South WalesSouth Australia
1915–16Not contested due to World War I
1916–17
1917–18
1918–19
1919–20New South WalesVictoriaSouth Australia
1920–21New South WalesVictoriaSouth Australia
1921–22VictoriaNew South WalesSouth Australia
1922–23New South WalesVictoriaSouth Australia
1923–24VictoriaNew South WalesSouth Australia
1924–25VictoriaNew South WalesSouth Australia
1925–26New South WalesVictoriaSouth Australia
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1926/27–1946/47

The Sheffield Shield being handed over to New South Wales, 4 May 1932.
  Queensland joined in 1926–27
More information Season, Winner ...
SeasonWinnerSecondThirdFourth
1926–27South AustraliaVictoriaNew South WalesQueensland
1927–28VictoriaSouth AustraliaNew South WalesQueensland
1928–29New South WalesVictoriaQueenslandSouth Australia
1929–30VictoriaNew South WalesSouth AustraliaQueensland
1930–31VictoriaNew South WalesQueenslandSouth Australia
1931–32New South WalesSouth AustraliaVictoriaQueensland
1932–33New South WalesVictoriaSouth AustraliaQueensland
1933–34VictoriaNew South WalesSouth AustraliaQueensland
1934–35VictoriaNew South WalesSouth AustraliaQueensland
1935–36South AustraliaNew South WalesVictoriaQueensland
1936–37VictoriaSouth AustraliaNew South WalesQueensland
1937–38New South WalesSouth AustraliaVictoriaQueensland
1938–39South AustraliaVictoriaQueenslandNew South Wales
1939–40New South WalesSouth AustraliaVictoriaQueensland
1940–41Not contested due to World War II
1941–42
1942–43
1943–44
1944–45
1945–46
1946–47VictoriaNew South WalesQueenslandSouth Australia
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1947/48–1976/77

Western Australia team with the 1947–48 Sheffield Shield. The state won the shield despite playing three fewer games than other states with having the better average than their rivals.
  Western Australia joined in 1947–48
More information Season, Winner ...
SeasonWinnerSecondThirdFourthFifth
1947–48Western AustraliaNew South WalesSouth AustraliaQueenslandVictoria
1948–49New South WalesVictoriaSouth AustraliaQueenslandWestern Australia
1949–50New South WalesVictoriaWestern AustraliaQueenslandSouth Australia
1950–51VictoriaNew South WalesWestern AustraliaQueenslandSouth Australia
1951–52New South WalesVictoriaQueenslandSouth AustraliaWestern Australia
1952–53South AustraliaNew South WalesVictoriaWestern AustraliaQueensland
1953–54New South WalesVictoriaQueenslandSouth AustraliaWestern Australia
1954–55New South WalesVictoriaWestern AustraliaQueenslandSouth Australia
1955–56New South WalesVictoriaQueenslandWestern AustraliaSouth Australia
1956–57New South WalesQueenslandVictoriaWestern AustraliaSouth Australia
1957–58New South WalesVictoriaQueenslandWestern AustraliaSouth Australia
1958–59New South WalesQueenslandVictoriaWestern AustraliaSouth Australia
1959–60New South WalesVictoriaWestern AustraliaQueenslandSouth Australia
1960–61New South WalesVictoriaWestern AustraliaQueenslandSouth Australia
1961–62New South WalesQueenslandSouth AustraliaVictoriaWestern Australia
1962–63VictoriaSouth AustraliaNew South WalesWestern AustraliaQueensland
1963–64South AustraliaVictoriaNew South WalesQueenslandWestern Australia
1964–65New South WalesVictoriaSouth AustraliaWestern AustraliaQueensland
1965–66New South WalesWestern AustraliaSouth AustraliaVictoriaQueensland
1966–67VictoriaSouth AustraliaNew South WalesWestern AustraliaQueensland
1967–68Western AustraliaVictoriaSouth AustraliaNew South WalesQueensland
1968–69South AustraliaWestern AustraliaQueenslandVictoriaNew South Wales
1969–70VictoriaWestern AustraliaNew South WalesSouth AustraliaQueensland
1970–71South AustraliaVictoriaWestern AustraliaNew South WalesQueensland
1971–72Western AustraliaSouth AustraliaNew South WalesVictoriaQueensland
1972–73Western AustraliaSouth AustraliaNew South WalesVictoriaQueensland
1973–74VictoriaQueenslandNew South WalesWestern AustraliaSouth Australia
1974–75Western AustraliaQueenslandVictoriaNew South WalesSouth Australia
1975–76South AustraliaQueenslandWestern AustraliaNew South WalesVictoria
1976–77Western AustraliaVictoriaQueenslandNew South WalesSouth Australia
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1977/78–present

The South Australian team celebrate winning the Sheffield Shield in 2025, breaking their 29-year drought.
  Tasmania joined in 1977–78
More information Season, Winner ...
SeasonWinnerSecondThirdFourthFifthSixth
1977–78Western AustraliaQueenslandVictoriaSouth AustraliaNew South WalesTasmania
1978–79VictoriaWestern AustraliaNew South WalesQueenslandSouth AustraliaTasmania
1979–80VictoriaSouth AustraliaNew South WalesQueenslandWestern AustraliaTasmania
1980–81Western AustraliaNew South WalesQueenslandVictoriaTasmaniaSouth Australia
1981–82South AustraliaNew South WalesWestern AustraliaTasmaniaQueenslandVictoria
1982–83New South WalesWestern AustraliaSouth AustraliaTasmaniaQueenslandVictoria
1983–84Western AustraliaQueenslandTasmaniaNew South WalesSouth AustraliaVictoria
1984–85New South WalesQueenslandSouth AustraliaWestern AustraliaVictoriaTasmania
1985–86New South WalesQueenslandVictoriaWestern AustraliaSouth AustraliaTasmania
1986–87Western AustraliaVictoriaQueenslandSouth AustraliaNew South WalesTasmania
1987–88Western AustraliaQueenslandNew South WalesVictoriaSouth AustraliaTasmania
1988–89Western AustraliaSouth AustraliaQueenslandNew South WalesTasmaniaVictoria
1989–90New South WalesQueenslandSouth AustraliaTasmaniaWestern AustraliaVictoria
1990–91VictoriaNew South WalesQueenslandWestern AustraliaSouth AustraliaTasmania
1991–92Western AustraliaNew South WalesVictoriaQueenslandSouth AustraliaTasmania
1992–93New South WalesQueenslandWestern AustraliaSouth AustraliaTasmaniaVictoria
1993–94New South WalesTasmaniaWestern AustraliaVictoriaSouth AustraliaQueensland
1994–95QueenslandSouth AustraliaVictoriaWestern AustraliaNew South WalesTasmania
1995–96South AustraliaWestern AustraliaQueenslandTasmaniaNew South WalesVictoria
1996–97QueenslandWestern AustraliaNew South WalesTasmaniaVictoriaSouth Australia
1997–98Western AustraliaTasmaniaQueenslandNew South WalesVictoriaSouth Australia
1998–99Western AustraliaQueenslandVictoriaSouth AustraliaTasmaniaNew South Wales
1999–2000QueenslandVictoriaWestern AustraliaSouth AustraliaTasmaniaNew South Wales
2000–01QueenslandVictoriaNew South WalesTasmaniaWestern AustraliaSouth Australia
2001–02QueenslandTasmaniaWestern AustraliaSouth AustraliaVictoriaNew South Wales
2002–03New South WalesQueenslandVictoriaSouth AustraliaWestern AustraliaTasmania
2003–04VictoriaQueenslandTasmaniaWestern AustraliaNew South WalesSouth Australia
2004–05New South WalesQueenslandWestern AustraliaVictoriaSouth AustraliaTasmania
2005–06QueenslandVictoriaSouth AustraliaTasmaniaWestern AustraliaNew South Wales
2006–07TasmaniaNew South WalesVictoriaQueenslandWestern AustraliaSouth Australia
2007–08New South WalesVictoriaWestern AustraliaTasmaniaSouth AustraliaQueensland
2008–09VictoriaQueenslandSouth AustraliaTasmaniaWestern AustraliaNew South Wales
2009–10VictoriaQueenslandNew South WalesWestern AustraliaTasmaniaSouth Australia
2010–11TasmaniaNew South WalesQueenslandWestern AustraliaVictoriaSouth Australia
2011–12QueenslandTasmaniaVictoriaWestern AustraliaNew South WalesSouth Australia
2012–13TasmaniaQueenslandNew South WalesVictoriaWestern AustraliaSouth Australia
2013–14New South WalesWestern AustraliaSouth AustraliaQueenslandTasmaniaVictoria
2014–15VictoriaWestern AustraliaNew South WalesQueenslandTasmaniaSouth Australia
2015–16VictoriaSouth AustraliaNew South WalesQueenslandWestern AustraliaTasmania
2016–17VictoriaSouth AustraliaWestern AustraliaNew South WalesQueenslandTasmania
2017–18QueenslandTasmaniaVictoriaWestern AustraliaNew South WalesSouth Australia
2018–19VictoriaNew South WalesWestern AustraliaQueenslandTasmaniaSouth Australia
2019–20New South WalesVictoriaQueenslandTasmaniaWestern AustraliaSouth Australia
2020–21QueenslandNew South WalesWestern AustraliaTasmaniaVictoriaSouth Australia
2021–22Western AustraliaVictoriaTasmaniaNew South WalesQueenslandSouth Australia
2022–23Western AustraliaVictoriaQueenslandSouth AustraliaTasmaniaNew South Wales
2023–24Western AustraliaTasmaniaNew South WalesVictoriaSouth AustraliaQueensland
2024–25South AustraliaQueenslandVictoriaNew South WalesTasmaniaWestern Australia
2025–26South AustraliaVictoriaQueenslandTasmaniaNew South WalesWestern Australia
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Player of the Year

The Player of the Year award is announced at the end of each season.[28] Since its inception in 1976 it has been awarded to the best-performed player/s over the season, as determined a panel of judges. Victorian and South Australian batsman Matthew Elliott has won the award the most times, being awarded Player of the Year on three separate occasions.

More information Season, Winner(s) ...
SeasonWinner(s)
1975–76Ian Chappell (SA), Greg Chappell (Qld)
1976–77Richie Robinson (Vic)
1977–78David Ogilvie (Qld)
1978–79Peter Sleep (SA)
1979–80Ian Chappell (SA)
1980–81Greg Chappell (Qld)
1981–82Kepler Wessels (Qld)
1982–83Kim Hughes (WA)
1983–84Brian Davison (Tas), John Dyson (NSW)
1984–85David Boon (Tas)
1985–86Allan Border (Qld)
1986–87Craig McDermott (Qld)
1987–88Dirk Tazelaar (Qld), Mark Waugh (NSW)
1988–89Tim May (SA)
1989–90Mark Waugh (NSW)
1990–91Stuart Law (Qld)
1991–92Tony Dodemaide (Vic)
1992–93Jamie Siddons (SA)
1993–94Matthew Hayden (Qld)
1994–95Dean Jones (Vic)
1995–96Matthew Elliott (Vic)
1996–97Andy Bichel (Qld)
1997–98Dene Hills (Tas)
1998–99Matthew Elliott (Vic)
1999–2000Darren Lehmann (SA)
2000–01Jamie Cox (Tas)
2001–02Brad Hodge (Vic), Jimmy Maher (Qld)
2002–03Clinton Perren (Qld)
2003–04Matthew Elliott (Vic)
2004–05Michael Bevan (Tas)
2005–06Andy Bichel (Qld)
2006–07Chris Rogers (WA)
2007–08Simon Katich (NSW)
2008–09Phillip Hughes (NSW)
2009–10Chris Hartley (Qld)
2010–11James Hopes (Qld)
2011–12Jackson Bird (Tas)
2012–13Ricky Ponting (Tas)
2013–14Marcus North (WA)
2014–15Adam Voges (WA)
2015–16Travis Head (SA)
2016–17Chadd Sayers (SA)
2017–18Chris Tremain (Vic)
2018–19Scott Boland (Vic)
2019–20Moises Henriques (NSW), Nic Maddinson (Vic)
2020–21Nathan Lyon (NSW)
2021–22Henry Hunt (SA), Travis Dean (Vic)
2022–23Michael Neser (Qld)
2023–24Beau Webster (Tas)
2024–25Fergus O'Neill (Vic)
2025-26Liam Scott (SA)
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Records

Individual records

Most matches played

More information Rank, Matches ...
RankMatchesPlayerPeriod
1161Jamie Cox (Tas)1987–88 to 2005–06
2159John Inverarity (WA/SA)1962–63 to 1984–85
3147Darren Lehmann (SA/Vic)1987–88 to 2007–08
4146Jamie Siddons (SA/Vic)1985 to 2000
5142Stuart Law (QLD)1988 to 2004
Source: . Last updated: 26 March 2018.
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Players representing three states

More information Player, Career ...
PlayerCareerStatesMatches
Graeme Watson1964–65 to 1976–77NSW, Vic, WA60
Gary Cosier1971–72 to 1980–81Vic, SA, Qld46
Trevor Chappell1972–73 to 1984–85NSW, SA, WA63
Rod McCurdy1980–81 to 1984–85SA, Tas, Vic33
Dirk Wellham1980–81 to 1991–92NSW, Qld, Tas99
Colin Miller1985–86 to 2001–02Vic, SA, Tas84
Michael Bevan1989–90 to 2006–07SA, NSW, Tas118
Shane Watson2000–01 to 2015–16Tas, Qld, NSW81
Shane Jurgensen1999–2000 to 2006–07WA, Tas, Qld23
Aiden Blizzard2007–08 to 2012–13Vic, SA, Tas21
Michael Klinger1998–99 to 2018–19Vic, SA, WA122
Gurinder Sandhu2012–13 to 2021–22NSW, Tas, Qld33
Source: A Century of Summers: 100 years of Sheffield Shield cricket, Geoff Armstrong, p. 278. Last updated: 30 Nov 2008.
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Six other players have represented three Australian states in top-level cricket, but without playing Sheffield Shield games for all three – Neil Hawke (SA, Tas, WA); Walter McDonald (Qld, Tas, Vic); Percy McDonnell (NSW, Qld, Vic); Karl Quist (NSW, SA, WA); Greg Rowell (NSW, Qld, Tas); Wal Walmsley (NSW, Qld, Tas), Dan Christian (NSW, SA, Vic).

Team records

Team results

More information Rank, Team ...
RankTeamEnteredMatchesWonLostDrawnTied% Won
1 New South Wales1892–93930387268274141.61
2 Victoria1892–93927362265299139.05
3 Western Australia1947–48696247216233035.49
4 Queensland1926–27817258283275131.58
5 South Australia1892–93917256415245127.92
6 Tasmania1977–78469121184164025.80
Source: . Last updated: 30 March 2026.
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Highest team totals

More information Rank, Total ...
RankTotalTeamOpponentVenueSeason
11107 Victoria New South WalesMelbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne1926–27
2918 New South Wales South AustraliaSydney Cricket Ground, Sydney1900–01
3900/6d Queensland VictoriaBrisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane2005–06
4821/7d South Australia QueenslandAdelaide Oval, Adelaide1939–40
5815 New South Wales VictoriaSydney Cricket Ground, Sydney1908–09
Source: . Last updated: 31 March 2019.
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Lowest team totals

More information Rank, Total ...
RankTotalTeamOpponentVenueSeason
127 South Australia New South WalesSydney Cricket Ground, Sydney1955–56
229 South Australia New South WalesSydney Cricket Ground, Sydney2004–05
331 Victoria New South WalesMelbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne1906–07
4 32  New South Wales  Tasmania Bellerive Oval, Hobart 2020–21
535 Victoria New South WalesSydney Cricket Ground, Sydney1926–27
Source: . Last updated: 31 March 2019.
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Batting records

Highest individual scores

More information Rank, Runs ...
RankRunsPlayerMatchVenueSeason
1452*Don Bradman (NSW)New South Wales v QueenslandSydney Cricket Ground, Sydney1929–30
2437Bill Ponsford (Vic)Victoria v QueenslandMelbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne1927–28
3365*Clem Hill (SA)South Australia v New South WalesAdelaide Oval, Adelaide1900–01
4359Bob Simpson (NSW)New South Wales v QueenslandBrisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane1963–64
5357Don Bradman (SA)South Australia v VictoriaMelbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne1935–36
Source: . Last updated: 31 March 2019.
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Most career runs

More information Rank, Runs ...
RankRunsPlayerCareer
113,635 (266 inns.)Darren Lehmann (SA/Vic)1987–88 to 2007–08
210,821 (295 inns.)Jamie Cox (Tas)1987–88 to 2005–06
310,643 (259 inns.)Jamie Siddons (Vic/SA)1984–85 to 1999–2000
410,621 (211 inns.)Michael Bevan (SA/NSW/Tas)1989–90 to 2006–07
510,474 (254 inns.)Brad Hodge (Vic)1993–94 to 2009–10
Source: . Last updated: 25 March 2015.
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Most runs in a season

More information Rank, Runs ...
RankRunsPlayerAverageSeason
11,506 (17 inns.)Simon Katich (NSW)94.122007–08
21,464 (18 inns.)Michael Bevan (Tas)97.602004–05
31,381 (20 inns.)Matthew Elliott (Vic)81.232003–04
41,358 (20 inns.)Adam Voges (WA)104.462014–15
51,254 (18 inns.)Graham Yallop (Vic)69.661982–83
Source: . Last updated: 31 March 2019.
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Highest batting averages

More information Rank, Average ...
RankAveragePlayerCareer
1110.19 (96 inns.)Don Bradman (NSW/SA)1927–28 to 1948–49
2100.09 (12 inns.)Barry Richards (SA)1970–71
383.27 (70 inns.)Bill Ponsford (Vic)1920–21 to 1933–34
470.88 (95 inns.)Alan Kippax (NSW)1918–19 to 1935–36
568.00 (81 inns.)Monty Noble (NSW)1893–94 to 1919–20
667.03 (64 inns.)Bill Woodfull (Vic)1921–22 to 1933–34
Qualification: 10 innings.

Source: . Last updated: 26 January 2020.

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Most centuries

More information Rank, Centuries ...
RankCenturiesPlayerMatches
145Darren Lehmann (SA/Vic)147
242Michael Bevan (SA/NSW/Tas)118
336Don Bradman (NSW/SA)62
433Chris Rogers (WA/Vic)120
532Matthew Elliott (Vic/SA)122
Source: . Last updated: 25 March 2015.
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Bowling records

Most career wickets

More information Rank, Wickets ...
RankWicketsPlayerMatchesAverage
1513Clarrie Grimmett (SOA/VIC)7925.29
2441Michael Kasprowicz (QLD)10124.56
3430Andy Bichel (QLD)8923.24
4419Jo Angel (WA)10524.86
5397Jackson Bird (NSW/TAS)9122.10
Source: . Last updated: 18 February 2025.
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Most wickets in a season

More information Rank, Wickets ...
RankWicketsPlayerMatchesSeason
167Colin Miller (Tas)111997–98
265Shaun Tait (SA)102004–05
362Chadd Sayers (SA)112016–17
460Chuck Fleetwood-Smith (Vic)61934–35
560Andy Bichel (Qld)112004–05
660Ben Hilfenhaus (Tas)112006–07
Source: . Last updated: 31 March 2019.
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Best career average

More information Rank, Average ...
RankAveragePlayerOversWickets
117.10Bill O'Reilly (NSW)1,342.4203
217.74Joel Garner (SA)403.155
317.87Geff Noblet (SA)1,394.4190
418.09Pat Crawford (NSW)314.561
519.08Charlie Turner (NSW)653.273
Qualification: 200 overs bowled.

Source: . Last updated: 31 March 2019.

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Hat-tricks

Many bowlers have taken a hat-trick in the Sheffield Shield. Mitchell Starc is the only bowler to take two hat-tricks in a Sheffield Shield match. In round two of the 2017–18 competition, Starc became the only bowler to take a hat-trick in each innings of a first-class cricket match in Australia, doing so against Western Australia at Hurstville Oval.[29][30]

Wicket-keeping records

Most dismissals

More information Rank, Dismissals ...
RankDismissalsPlayerMatches
1546 (499 c. 47 st.)Darren Berry (SA/Vic)139
2545 (530 c. 15 st.)Chris Hartley (Qld)128
3488 (474 c. 14 st.)Wade Seccombe (Qld)101
4350 (322 c. 28 st.)Tim Zoehrer (WA)107
5343 (310 c. 33 st.)Rod Marsh (WA)86
Source: . Last updated: 26 January 2020.
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Most dismissals in a season

More information Rank, Dismissals ...
RankDismissalsPlayerSeason
159 (57 c. 2 st.)Alex Carey (SA)2016–17
258 (57 c. 1 st.)Wade Seccombe (Qld)2000–01
358 (56 c. 2 st.)Chris Hartley (Qld)2011–12
457 (57 c. 0 st.)Matthew Wade (Vic)2008–09
554 (52 c. 2 st.)Wade Seccombe (Qld)1995–96
654 (52 c. 2 st.)Adam Gilchrist (WA)1996–97
754 (52 c. 2 st.)Darren Berry (Vic)1999–2000
854 (50 c. 4 st.)Adam Gilchrist (WA)1995–96
954 (52 c. 2 st.)Chris Hartley (Qld)2008–09
1054 (54 c. 0 st.)Wade Seccombe (Qld)1999–2000
Source: . Last updated: 26 January 2020.
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See also

Further reading

  • The History of the Sheffield Shield, Chris Harte
  • A Century of Summers: 100 years of Sheffield Shield cricket, Geoff Armstrong
  • A History of Australian Cricket 1993, Chris Harte

External links

  • "2025/26 Sheffield Shield / Second XI Playing Conditions" (PDF). Cricket Australia. Retrieved 28 April 2026.

References

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