Scheduling has damaged the Sheffield Shield

Justin Langer’s challenge to Sheffield Shield batsmen to score runs and put themselves in the running for Test selection has seemingly paid off.

The first three rounds of the domestic competition has yielded 11 centuries and two double centuries.

Some words of caution though. In recent seasons, players of quality like Joe Burns, Matt Renshaw and Pete Handscomb have all made their debuts for Australia. While a bout of concussion probably cost Renshaw a spot against Pakistan, it is possible that none of them will play the first Test against India.

The other debutant of note, Cameron Bancroft was also struggling to cement his place in the team, before the ball-tampering scandal hit.

It appears as though Sheffield Shield runs are no longer enough. We can no longer kid ourselves that the Sheffield Shield is the premier domestic competition in the world.

For example, Marcus Harris’ 250no against NSW got some warranted headlines. The NSW bowling attack opened with Trent Copeland and Daniel Sams. No-one would deny that Copeland and Sams are worthy State bowlers but no-one would dispute either that NSW’s other opening bowlers of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood would be stronger.

A 250no against NSW’s first choice attack of Starc, Hazelwood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyons would be a one-way ticket to the Test team.

Cricket Australia is going through its fair share of upheaval at the moment but high on the list, for the new administration, should be getting Shield cricket back to where it once was.

Scheduling is the major problem. The Australian men’s one day performances over the last 12 months have been nothing short of deplorable and we have little chance of seriously competing for the 2019 World Cup. Part of that comes down to the scheduling of the JLT Cup.

Cricket starting in September with a fixture list that saw match up’s such as Tasmania versus Queensland at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney. Cricket Australia were surely just going through the motions.

The same scheduling issues will hamper the Sheffield Shield this season. Kudos to Cricket Australia for organising five Sheffield Shield rounds before the first Test against India, although more on that later.

However, the Shield goes into recess on 11th December and re-starts in late February. The final itself is at the end of March. It’s a shame that the final isn’t a five day match otherwise the domestic cricket season would finish on April Fool’s Day.

The Shield has been hijacked by the scheduling of the BBL. There is no doubt that the BBL is a big money spinner for Australian cricket. However, an extended BBL season dilutes the great domestic T20 product that Cricket Australia already has and results in a two and a half month break for Shield cricket. There is no doubt where the priorities lie.

Jordan Silk of the Tigers batting during day four of the JLT cricket final between Queensland and Tasmania at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane, Monday, March 26, 2018. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

Cricket Australia, perhaps unwittingly, made a good decision scheduling five Shield rounds before the first day at the Adelaide Oval. However, they made a bad decision scheduling a one day series against South Africa, and then T20s versus South Africa and India, at the same time. The result is we shouldn’t expect any of the one day or T20 squad to play any red ball cricket until the first Test.

By doing that, Cricket Australia has ensured that none of the young batsmen coming through the Shield system will face anything like an international attack leading into the first test. Any making it through to the Test team will face an attack like they have never faced before.

Sure, we are contracted to play these meaningless internationals but Cricket Australia has missed an opportunity to help those batsmen go in better prepared.

While the Sheffield Shield hasn’t really been a crowd puller for many years, I remember as a kid watching Imran Khan bowl for NSW, at the SCG, alongside a good sized crowd. Khan wasn’t alone as a world-class player in the Sheffield Shield at that time.

Cricket Australia should consider whether the BBL can help. The various franchises pay big dollars to get their star imports into their BBL line up’s.

The demise of the Sheffield Shield is hurting all of Australian cricket. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

While seeming slightly outlandish, I do think it worthwhile considering whether those same imports could be contracted, as part of their BBL contract, to play one or two Shield games before, during or after the BBL with the Australian Test players preferably all available.
I’d pay to see Joe Root fielding alongside Nathan Lyon at the SCG.

While it may temporarily rob a few Australian-born players of spots in their Sheffield Shield team, the likes of Jason Sangha would significantly benefit from having Joe Root in the same dressing room. It’s worth a shot.

Most of us are hoping for an Australian test team, minus Steve Smith and David Warner, to do Australians proud this summer. However, if they don’t, Cricket Australia will continue to be under the microscope. In this situation, one of the first things they should do is look to how they return the Sheffield Shield to its premier status.