Round five of this year’s Sheffield Shield wound to completion on Wednesday, and with it comes the ‘Big Gap’, as the Shield takes a break until February to make way for the Big Bash.
The last two rounds of the competition have seen some outstanding individual performances, most famously by Glen Maxwell, but there have also been some intriguing contests.
Going into the break, New South Wales remain on top of the ladder, with three wins, one draw, and one loss. Following them are Queensland (2, 2, 1); Tasmania (2, 1, 2); Western Australia (1, 2, 2); South Australia (1, 2, 2); and Victoria (0, 4, 1).
Runs
The leading run scorer so far in this year’s Sheffield Shield is Victorian Glen Maxwell, with 590 runs at 73.75. A healthy proportion of this came via his top score, a marvellous 278 in Victoria’s round four match against NSW.
Rounding out the top five is: Callum Ferguson with 541 at 60.11 and a high of 182*; Joe Burns, returning to the runs with 514 at 57.11 and a high score of 202*; Jake Weatherald with 457 at 45.70 and a high score of 152; and finally, despite not having played the last two rounds, Cameron Bancroft with 442 runs at 110.5 and a high score of 228*.
(AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Wickets
The leading wicket taker so far this season is Tasmanian Jackson bird, with 25 wickets at 16.69 from only four matches. He also has the excellent strike rate of 36.1.
Following him are the remarkably consistent Chris Tremain, with 22 wickets at 21.95, striking ever 45.1 balls; Scott Boland with 21 wickets at 24.38, striking at 53.6; youngster Gabe Bell with 18 wickets at 21.66, striking at 45.6; and finally Sam Rainbird, with 18 at 24.61, taking a wicket ever 51.6 balls.
Notable team performance: Tasmania
In the last two rounds, the most notable team performance has come from Tasmania. Sitting on the bottom of the table with no wins after three rounds, Tasmania have been bolstered to sit in third spot after taking out two wins on the trot.
These victories came largely on the back of some terrific fast bowling by their pace trio: Bird, Bell and Rainbird, all of whom are among the top five wicket takers.
Tasmania’s fifth round match against the first placed NSW was a remarkable effort. Playing at home, the Tigers batted first, declaring at 4/392.
Tasmania then ran through the Blues top order, skittling them for 208 to enforce the follow on. In the end, Tasmania only needed four runs in the last innings, which Jordan Silk took care of in only two balls.
An honourable mention should here go to Queensland. A team I tipped to be cellar-dwellers at the start of the season, the Queenslanders have performed exceptionally well so far this year.
Despite not having many stars and losing their best player and captain in Usman Khawaja, the Bulls have managed to draw their last two matches to move up to second on the ladder.
Notable player performances
Glen Maxwell
News of the last two rounds of the Sheffield Shield have been dominated by one man: Glen Maxwell. After controversially being left out of the Test team for Shaun Marsh, Maxwell responded in style by posting scores of 278, 16, and 96 – 390 runs at 130. With Peter Handscomb struggling somewhat in the Test team, Maxwell is forcing his hand and may be seen in the Ashes yet.
Jackson Bird
Another outstanding performer in the last two rounds is Jackson Bird. The Test hopeful and Tasmanian spearhead has been outstanding in an already excellent pace unit. He has claimed man of the match in both of his last two outings, claiming 15 wickets at 12.4. If there happens to be an injury in the Test pace attack, Bird will be a worthy replacement.
(Ross Setford/SNPA via AP)
Joe Burns
Finally, I want to give an honourable mention to Joe Burns. After being dropped from the Test team last year and having struggled for runs since, it is excellent to see Burns back amongst the runs. Remarkably, in the last two rounds Burns has actually scored exactly the same amount of runs as Glen Maxwell, 390 runs at 130. If Bancroft should falter at any time, Burns may well have the form to dust off his baggy green.
Disappointments
Perhaps the biggest individual disappointment this season continues to be Matt Renshaw. So far this year he has scored only 150 runs at 16.66. Thankfully, Renshaw’s last innings was a 51*, which will be a certain boost for his confidence. However, without this, his average is an even more worrying 11. Hopefully we have seen the turn of the tide.
The most disappointing team is by far Victoria. Premiers for the last three years, and owning the lead run scorer and two of the top five wicket takers, the Bushrangers nevertheless sit dead last on the points board not having one a single game.
It is a big fall for the reigning champions, and hopefully they can get back in the winners margin come February.
With the Big Bash ahead of us, long-form cricket will be confined to internationals until February 8th. However, the Shield is well placed for an exciting second half and I, for one, can’t wait.
MarkL
Guest
So I get the need for the Big Gap, but with round 5 of the Shield having finished on December 6th and the BBL not starting until December 19th, why isn't round 6 and even round 7 being played in this period, i.e. now? Another two rounds of Shield games pre-BBL would give players further opportunities to stake claims for the 4th and 5th Ashes tests and the tour to South Africa in the new year. Additional rounds now would then mean fewer games in February and March when grounds become unavailable and would capitalise on the November-January period when interest in cricket is at its maximum (before the football codes take over). CA have really missed an opportunity here.
JohnB
Guest
Always low and slow Cairns - meaning Cairns is always low and slow, not that they always go to Cairns (it was Mackay the year before last I think - which was low and slow - I can't recall last year - maybe Alan Border field? And using that also annoys me - too small and generally little in the pitch). I totally understand the benefit of spreading games around - but if a venue can't provide a good cricket wicket don't go there.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Yeah, they did too. That game also had the directives around Paine's batting, otherwise they would've belted the Vics. Though was a "directive" or something along those lines actually confirmed, or is that just conjecture? Good move, I reckon. Wouldn't be hard to be a step up in the keeping and honestly, Wade should've abandoned the keeping long ago. May well have been able to make it as a batsman.
Don Freo
Guest
As long as WA is only one game from the top, and they can tread water until they can get Joel Paris (just playing grade cricket again), NCN, Behrendorff and Mackin back on the paddock, they'll be a threat. Agar is back now and Sam Whiteman could be back after the Big Bash. Maxi Klinger is back from Afghanistan T20 so he could add some depth as the Marshes take the Test side by storm.
Don Freo
Guest
Tassie didn't just win the last 2 games, they had the previous game on toast too until rain washed out the fourth day. Adam Griffith had a great impact with The Warriors and is now making his mark back with Tassie. Interesting that he now has Doran keeping with Wade out in the field.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
With the Bell-Bird and Rainbird combo the Tasmanians are flying!!
qwetzen
Guest
I believe Shield teams playing the odd game out in the country is a good idea. Have a look some time at the number of fc players who grew up outside the capital cities. It's way disproportionate. re "always Cairns": I think this is the first time that we've played a Shield match there, usually ABO is the alt.venue. I assume we've gone there 'cos it's not a bad spot and it has plane loads of available and eager young, female tourists. Or possibly something to do with the Kiddy Cricket that's about to start. "Test cricket has primacy.". CA
Sideline Commentator
Roar Guru
I actually don't mind them taking the game on tour around the state. North Qld isn't exactly a cricket heartland, so it's good to get some games to the fans up there. I think there a lot of untapped sporting talent for cricket in the north.
JohnB
Guest
To be fair to WA, they've got an eye-popping list of pace bowlers but a LOT of them seem to get injured. And as regards Qld - why or why do they give up the advantage of playing at the Gabba? And if they do, why the always low and slow Cairns?
qwetzen
Guest
"To me the biggest disappointment is WA." Agreed. They've been threatening to dominate the Shield for about 4 seasons now. It'd be an interesting discussion as to why they haven't. "The attack in the last round was the weakest I can recall playing for QLD." Absolutely. It was bad enough with Jimmy Hopes opening the bowling, but Nathan Rimmington? I can see some large scores being conceded in Feb when the pitches have dried out. Where have all our quicks gone? We used to have enough left over to supply WA. O my Kaspa & Bic of long ago.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
That 70 is his 2nd best knock of the season so far, imo. Not the first time I've seen him chop onto his stumps in that manner though, tiny bit annoying to watch blokes get out the same way multiple times.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Heh, good call! Yeah, I'd never even heard of Bell or Rogers before this season, and seen pretty much nothing of Rainbird but wow are they bowling well. Their batting's picked itself up somewhat as well, though one match is not cause for celebration yet. Yeah, I'm pretty surprised at WA. Losing both their first-choice openers is big, but they were struggling for consistency before that and nothing really seems to be coming together. Even their attack; I expected that they would be able to defend low totals fairly easily but right now they're starting to look like our Test attack in the 2010/11 Ashes. Burns should have solidly placed himself back into Test contention (especially with how many matches you actually need to perform well for now apparently). Pretty well known by now that I've never been that sold on Renshaw. If he can step up from here on in and make lots of good scores then he'll show he's sorted himself out, but right now I'm still reserving judgement. He's even been missing out on great batting pitches, never a good look when you do that.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Yeah, non test players.
Rellum
Roar Guru
To me the biggest disappointment is WA. I think they are suffering from playing at such a batting paradise. If I recall they have been involved in a lot of high scoring games. Their attack has been shuffled around too much and suffered from the top bowlers not playing. I am happy QLD are so high up on the ladder, we just need to keep getting outrights though and the bowlers need to stand up. Two draws in the last two rounds can't be what happens for the rest of the season. The attack in the last round was the weakest I can recall playing for QLD. I was most impressed with Joey Burn's 70 against Tassie, that was in tough conditions and he played really well.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Uzzi scored a great 100 in the first round, or are you talking about non test players?
Sideline Commentator
Roar Guru
Ah I picked Tassie to be a smokey way back Matt. I reckon the change in coach will do wonders. And I'm just really impressed with their pace trio, they are young and led by a test player. So also impressed Burns and just Qld in general. They are a rag tag group of fellas but are performing really well, unlike WA who is struggling inexplicably. It's the old "champions team vs a team of champions" kind of thing. Renshaw is still a worry for me. That last innings will do a lot for him, but I still wonder if he has sorted out his technical issues.
Linphoma
Guest
I wasn't able to watch any Shield but now I have to put up with this hiatus in the comp....Now with the BB coming in I guess CA can say to me "Look, you got cricket most nights in the week now" and the remaining tests will sate any hunger for red/pink ball cricket, but it's not the same. Say someone breaks down in Perth. The form selectors go by is a week old. If someone goes during the Boxing Day test, selectors have stale 3 week old form to go by. Unless they think 20 over form is something to go by?
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Yeah boy, the Shield is back! I'm actually really bummed about only managing a draw with WA, even more than how we lost to NSW. We were in the box seat to chase that target, and being 8 runs short of leading the ladder is kind of annoying. See, I knew Burns would stand up! Still don't have any other centurions, but hey, progress. Heazlett's got the most pressure now, lot of hype and coming into a batting line-up like ours, need big runs from him as well. Figures Renshaw would eventually get a decent innings; if he's good enough, he will score runs. I think leaving him out of the test side is beyond vindicated now. The thing is though, given his form in his last 4/5 tests and beyond, plus the corresponding form of his competitors, was he really worth the gamble? Regardless, excellent stuff from us so far. Also Tassie; moved up from last to third in the space of two matches. How about that? I did not see that coming at all.
JohnB
Guest
Burns scored 724 at 40 last year while opening, so while he didn't dominate, he hardly struggled overall. Qld find themselves 2 boundaries off leading the table - somewhere between puzzling and astounding given their not exactly devastating attack. The other features of the past couple of games are that the Vics have recovered from their dreadful start to the season and that the strong on paper WA team continues to struggle - and perhaps also that with a few matches ending in draws, all 6 teams are still in it.