The Sheffield Shield final has had four draws in the last six years, and Cricket Australia have tinkered with the rules to avoid a repeat when the 2018-19 final gets underway on Thursday between Victoria and New South Wales at the Junction Oval.
In a bid to stop the home team providing a flat, lifeless pitch and attempting to bat for five days and draw the match, bonus points will now come into the equation under the system which has been used for the past couple of regular seasons.
If the match lasts 270 overs or more – the equivalent of three full days of cricket – the side which has gained more bonus points in the game will be crowned champions.
Of course, if either team achieves an outright result, that will stand and bonus points won’t come into it.
The system will be the same as the one used throughout the season.
In the first 100 overs of the first innings for each side, 0.01 points will be awarded for each run scored past 200, and 0.1 points will be awarded for every wicket taken.
Essentially, it rewards aggressive cricket within the first hundred overs. If a team scored 400, they’d have two whole bonus points, plus whatever they earned for their bowling effort.
Here is how the last drawn final in 2017 would have played out if the bonus points system was in effect, to give an example of the system.
Victoria: 487 (166.2) and 323 (122.5) defeat South Australia: 287 (84.3) and 6/236 (65)
Taking the first innings into account only, Victoria were 6 for 349 after 100 overs, while South Australia were all out in 84.3.
It means Victoria would have received 1.49 bonus points for their batting, and 1 for their bowling. South Australia, on the other hand, would have received 0.6 for bowling, and just 0.87 for their batting, meaning Victoria would have been well ahead.
However, the game would probably be played differently under these changed rules.
Cricket Australia head of operations Peter Roach said it should provide a much more exciting final.
“We wished to ensure the match is a fitting finale to our marquee men’s domestic competition,” said Roach.
“The previous rule was not consistent with how this competition is generally played.
“The rule will be trialled this year, and we believe it will encourage the teams involved to push for a result and improve the spectacle in the tournament’s showcase match.”
The forecast for Melbourne is luckily pretty good for most of the five days, with the only real threat of rain hanging around on Day 2 (Friday).
If rain does intervene, then the bonus points system only becomes applicable after 270 overs of cricket have been completed.
The Sheffield Shield final gets underway at 10:30am (AEDT) on Thursday, March 28.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
I'm starting to come around to this methodology. It's interesting now - Vics 8-280 with Siddle knocked over and 4 overs to go. That's 0.8 pts vs NSW 0.8 pts. It's a close thing!!! The Vics desperate now to not be bowled out in the next 4 overs. If they can split the points at least. It's a mini game within a game. And - it's kinda like having the soccer penalty shoot out before half time - so - both sides know the result if it's a draw. Good thing or bad thing?
U
Roar Rookie
They are just the kind of bowler we will need in England. The all out pace battery doesn’t work over there. Starc and Hazlewood have been very disappointing the last year or so. And Siddle showed last ashes tour how it’s down over there in the one game he got to play
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Poor scheduling by CA...I'm sure players would gain more from playing Shield final than yet another ODI. Would have interesting bowling face off with Vic 5 v a selection from Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon, Cummins, Smith, SOK, Copeland...
jameswm
Roar Guru
Geez look at the Vics bowling lineup: Pattinson Tremain Siddle Boland Holland Pretty impressive. I did read a report saying they are to prove again they are the premier cricket state with their 5th win in 6 years or something - how many guys do they have in the test side? They do realise things would be a bit different if Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon, Cummins, Smith, Warner, Patterson etc didn't play tests? NSW still have Copeland, Nevill, Patterson and SOK playing. But overall nowhere near the bowling lineup the Vics have.
AREH
Roar Guru
I hope to see one wildcard type quick taken on the Ashes tour, even if just backup in the squad. Someone who has earned it through Shield performances, and suited to the conditions - like Copeland, Bird, Sayers, Tremain or even a Winter/Worrall.
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Thanks Ryan. Well deserved for a consistent performer. Worthy of note are Bird, Tremain and Copeland....all deemed too slow for Tests unfortunately.
AREH
Roar Guru
In other Shield news, Scott Boland named player of the tournament, with Victorians dominating the top five. Fair play to him, a lot of bowlers performed brilliantly across the season.
zenn
Guest
RIP Bruce Yardley. Sad news to hear of Bruce Yardley's passing today.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
How complicated How about just play a timeless test with no draw possible to declare the winner? With modern attacks it would be unlikely to last 5 days