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This week sees the commencement of the 2011-12 Sheffield Shield, a competition that has stood the test of time as cricket’s premier domestic first class competition.
As Australia has plummeted to fourth in the ICC Test Rankings, administrators and fans will be looking towards the shield, for young players that may step up and win a spot in the Australian team as the rebuilding towards the 2013 Ashes continues.
The states though will be looking to balance development with winning and taking the title from reigning holder Tasmania.
New South Wales, runner-up last season, look to have the strongest squad, with experienced campaigners such as Simon Katich, Phil Jacques and Nathan Hauritz leading the way, but all eyes will be on Nick Maddinson, Mitchell Starc and Patrick Cummins as they represent the future of Australian cricket.
Maddinson averaged almost 40 from seven first class games in his first season and earned selection for Australia A’s tour of Zimbabwe in the off-season.
If Maddinson can survive the ‘second year blues’, he will be within striking distance of a Test debut as Australia’s reserve batting stocks are very thin.
Starc and Cummins will form the pace attack with, depending on availability, Trent Copeland, Doug Bollinger and another promising young quick Josh Hazelwood.
Throw in all-rounder Steven Smith, batsmen Usman Khawaja and David Warner, who will all play some games and it’s hard to see New South Wales not being a contender.
Tasmania and Victoria look to be the only other sides capable of winning the Shield.
Tasmania will again field an experienced line-up with captain George Bailey, Mark Cosgrove, Ed Cowan and wicket-keeper Tim Paine expected to make the bulk of the runs.
The form of bowling all-rounder James Faulkner will be of interest, although the left-arm medium pacer looks more of a limited overs prospect, as barring injury, Shane Watson won’t lose his spot in the Test team.
In 2010-11, Victoria missed the final for the first time since 2006-07 and will rely on an experienced middle-order and bowling attack. They will miss John Hastings, who has already been ruled out for the season with an injured shoulder.
Captain Cameron White will be keen to perform, coming off the back of a disappointing 2010-11 that saw him average only 27 from six innings in the Shield and lose his place in the Australian limited overs side.
James Pattinson, who made his limited overs debut for Australia against Bangladesh in April this year, after only six first class games, will need a big season to lift Victoria into the final.
Clint McKay, Darren Pattinson and when available, Peter Siddle, will act as the support cast.
Left-arm spinner Jon Holland will get the opportunity to impress, with the retirement of Bryce McGain.
Queensland and Western Australia will be competitive, with South Australia likely to finish last again.
From these sides, the form of Queensland leg spinner Cameron Boyce will be of most interest. Boyce has now played 10 first class games and taken 14 wickets at 55, hardly flattering statistics but he did take 6/181 in the second innings of the 09-10 shield final and looks the most likely long-term spinning prospect in Australian cricket.
Thwarted by Queensland’s very wet summer in 10/11, a solid season could see Boyce called up for the tour of West Indies in March-April 2012.
The form of South Australian off spinner Nathan Lyon will also be of much interest. Lyon recently took 5/34 on his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Galle.
However, the wicket was poor and judging by the amount of turn Ricky Pointing got with his very occasional off-spinners, it’s fair to say that Lyon won’t ever see another wicket like it.
Western Australia have turned to experienced imports Travis Birt (ex-Tasmania), Mark Cameron (ex-NSW) and Nathan Rimmington (ex-Queensland) and apart from the Marsh brothers, have few international prospects coming through the ranks.
Season predictions:
1. New South Wales, 2. Tasmania, 3. Victoria, 4. Queensland, 5. Western Australia, 6. South Australia
Players to watch:
Nick Maddison (NSW), Patrick Cummins (NSW), James Pattinson (Victoria), Cameron Boyce (Queensland)
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