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Opinion

How are the CA-contracted players going in the Shield?

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Roar Guru
6th November, 2020
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Due to a depressing lack of Test cricket, this year’s Sheffield Shield has more eyes on it than most years.

Combine this with the uncertain nature of our men’s Test team and there is plenty to talk about, such as in recent articles by Paul, Cameron Boyle, and Patrick Morrow.

But which players are standing out? My in-form XI is Sam Whiteman, Cameron Bancroft, Shaun Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Jack Bird, Xavier Bartlett and Mitchell Swepson.

There are 20 players with Cricket Australia contracts for the 2020-21 season. Of these players, 11 have not played in the Shield so far this season: Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, David Warner and Adam Zampa.

Of the remaining nine, results have been mixed.

Ashton Agar
Agar has had a decent performance as an all-rounder, although his batting figures are propped up by one good score. He’s scored 144 runs at 48 in four innings, with one not out and a high score 114*. He’s taken ten wickets at 39.70 across six innings, with an economy of 2.56 and a strike rate of 93.

Joe Burns
Burns has been disappointing so far this season, especially considering he is vying for an opening spot in the Test team. He’s scored 36 runs at 12 in three innings.

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Travis Head
Head has been in fantastic form and is the lead run scorer. He will surely reprise his spot in the Test team this summer. He’s scored 418 runs at 83.60 in six innings with one not out, two hundreds, and a high score of 171*.

Marnus Labuschagne
While not in the form of Head, Labuschagne has been in good form and again will be in the Test team. He’s scored 284 runs at 94.66 in three innings with two hundreds, and a high score of 167.

Nathan Lyon
While he has been upstaged by the Queensland spinner Swepson, Lyon has been serviceable and his place in our Test side is unlikely to be in doubt. He’s taken four wickets at 69.25 in three innings, with an economy of 3.41 and a strike rate of 121.5.

Tim Paine
Based on one great knock, the Australian captain’s form has been solid with both the bat and gloves, so there should be no cricketing coups in the near future.

Evan Gulbis

(Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)

With the gloves, he’s taken nine catches, and with the bat, he’s scored 137 runs at 45.66 in four innings with a high score of 111*.

Kane Richardson
Richardson has only managed one match this season, a drawn game in which Tasmania only batted once, so there’s not too much to read. He’s taken two wickets at 39.50.

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Mitchell Starc
Starc has also only played one match this season, the most recent match against Queensland. His results were good considering it was on a pitch that the Queensland spinner Swepson took ten wickets, and as ever will be in Test contention. He’s taken five wickets at 26.40.

Matthew Wade
Wade again has only played the one game this season, with solid results in a drawn match. He scored 140 runs at 140 in two innings with one not out.

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