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)
Lolly
Guest
Great start to the Shield. Can't believe the Warriors have started with a win over a good team. How marvellous.
Pete
Guest
Well QLD have defeated the Vics, with Cutting and Boyce getting some good wickets. Magoffin seems to have been a good get. And the mighty and glorious State that is NSW has contributed a fine batsman in Forrest who has subsequently got himself a ton.WA are two wickets away from a win over Tasmania as I write. And they have neither Coulter-Nile nor the glorious New South Welshman Cameron. The wheel may be starting to turn for these two States. I hope so.
Marcus Taylor
Roar Rookie
I'd like to see Cummins and Starc actually get some wickets on the board before they're talked about as genuine international players. I've no doubt that both have plenty of natural ability, but a couple of good 4 over spells does not make a good cricketer. As Brett Lee proved for the majority of his Test career, pace does not equate to success in the longer form of the game.
Marcus Taylor
Roar Rookie
Ben Laughlin is playing club cricket in Tasmania, and will play for the Hurricanes later this season
jameswm
Guest
Geez - dumping the best skipper in the country to blood a young guy. What about the old stager mentoring the youngsters? Seems an od choice - you want to win titles, and you'll have a better chance with Kat leading. I don't suppose Hilditch is selecting for NSW, is he?
Brett McKay
Guest
Peter Lalor has revealed in The Oz today that Steve O'Keeffe will take over the NSW captaincy from Simon Katich... http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/simon-katich-dumped-as-nsw-blues-skipper/story-e6frg7rx-1226164767803
jameswm
Guest
6? Watson, Hughes, Katich and Jaques are the only ones I can think of. If you're adding Haddin and Clarke as ODI openers, I was talking 4-day cricket, plus they (and Watson) are unlikely to play many if any Shield games.
jameswm
Guest
That may be you Lolly. I've seen Starc bowl a few times and he has been quick, accurate, uncomfortable and moving it away from the left hander (and into the right). Note that Doug the Rug stopped being an international level bowler when he lost his swing, and Johnson is a pie chucker without his same swing in the same direction. Matt F - fair enough for Cameron. It's tough with Copeland, Starc, Bollinger, Cummins and Hazlewood in front of you.
Lolly
Guest
And I have yet to see any signs that Mitchell Starc is international test quality. Let him take some wickets at first class level first. He and Mitchell Marsh must share the same PR agent who is obviously a genius. It will be a very interesting season though. So many questions for Australia at test level and we are all hoping that the Shield can provide some answers.
Andyc
Roar Rookie
Yes missing Lynn was an oversight. Though he hasn't had a good start to year missing first shield game with injury.
Matt F
Guest
Cameron has moved to WA
Brett McKay
Guest
FOS, what's happened to Ben Laughlin?? Played three ODIs a couple of years ago and seems to have disappeard since..
Bob
Guest
Andrew Mcdonald and Matthew Wade and Aaron Finch- look out for these guys. Be interesting see what NSW does with their batting order. They have 6 opening bats alone with test experience
jameswm
Guest
I'll be fascinated to see how Ronald McDonald goes this season. He had several brilliant performances last season, but was injured too much. Kris - the Tassie attack you mentiones is Hilfy, Butterworth, Faulkner and Doherty. You rate that above NSW's attack, who have: SPINNERS SOK Hauritz Steve Smith MEDIUM PACERS Copeland Starc Cummins Bollinger Hazlewood Cameron Tassie have a good attack, bu an attack of Copeland, Starc, Bollinger/Cummins and Smith/Hauritz is test quality. This talk about Boyce - the best young leggie around is in fact Steve Smith, but no one's worked out yet that he needs to be brought along as a bowling all rounder, not a batting one. Pretty tough to get hefty bowling time though with Hauritz and SOK in your squad. The Blues should go back to the traditional SCG dustbowl and play 3 spinners plus 2-3 quicks, with a keeper and 4-5 bats. The keeper can bat at 5-6, followed by Smith (6-7), Hauritz (7-8), SOK (8-9), and 2-3 of the quicks. Katich, Jaques, Maddinson and another can score the lion's share of the runs.
Lee McDonald
Roar Guru
Good piece. NSW definitely the favourites with a young and solid bowling group but if Tasmania keep on producing result pitches they are in with a shout as well.
JohnB
Guest
Sorry Lynn isn't playing the Shield game, and is injured.
JohnB
Guest
Having said that, Lynn playing in the Shield game, and got a duck in the one-dayer. Injured? For Qld, will Cutting show some of the form he had before last year? Will Walter kick on? The Vics Maxwell, McDonald and Wade all rate mentions too.
JohnB
Guest
Yes, I'd have thought a players to watch list would have to include Lynn and Butterworth. And maybe Mitchell Marsh.
Kris
Guest
If Hilfenhaus plays the full season, Butterworth continues to be overlooked and Doherty doesn't play in the tests I can't see anyone matching Tasmania's attack. A lot will depend on Cowan to hold the Tassie top order together. I'm really looking forward to this season.
formeropenside
Guest
Nothing about Chris Lynn or Joe Burns for Queensland?