With the cancellation of the South African Test tour, Australia’s next match is the first Test against England, hopefully at the Gabba, in November.
The Poms, meanwhile, had their stint in Sri Lanka, play India home and away, plus New Zealand for two Tests at home.
With those Tests versus our none, this is the most important back end of a Sheffield Shield season in a very long time.
Hundreds and draws bored the pants off viewers in the early part so we need juicy wickets, battles and tough cricket.
I’ve identified ten players to watch. They are players who need to get those extra performances together, and players who need to lift.
Marcus Harris (Victoria)
In just three innings, Marcus Harris has 355 runs at 118.33 and has had an incredible 18 months in Shield cricket. His strike rate is at 49.1, which is no issue at all, but how many chances does he get?
He’s the third best opening bat in the country, but the struggle for Harris is the jump to international cricket hasn’t been what his fans were expecting.
An average of 23.8 isn’t good enough but if he keeps himself in good form in the Shield, he can still give himself the best chance to get back into contention.
(Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Nic Maddinson (Victoria)
He has only batted three times for 88 runs but in his defence, his first two innings of 22 (off nine balls) and 27 (30) were both not-outs, due to Marcus Harris and Will Pucovski dominating. No one’s made more runs than him since his move from New South Wales to Victoria.
He got into the Test side in late 2016 against Pakistan and struggled, but the 29-year-old is clearly still in selectors’ minds, representing Australia A against India in the preceding games before the infamous Test series of the home summer.
Ben McDermott (Tasmania)
For those who have only jumped on the McDermott train when he was smacking runs in the BBL as easily as a normal person washes dishes, shame on you.
He’s the equal fifth highest run score in the Shield at 59.16 but what’s impressive is his strike rate is low (42.36), which means he’s batting for time and he’s one of three players to hit double digits in sixes. That is depth.
Mitchell Starc (New South Wales)
He has copped a fair whack and rightly so after the last three Tests against India. He copped a fair whack for looking lacklustre at times and non-threatening.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
At his best, he’s so deadly, so damaging and at all times you’re in big trouble. But in the India series at times he looked like a leaky tap. Balls were going everywhere and the ones that were straight weren’t coming out as quickly. He needs his confidence back as soon as possible, even with the bat as well.
Jhye Richardson (Western Australia)
At worst, the Western Australian is the fourth best quick bowler in the country, hands down. He took six wickets at 20.5 in his two Tests against Sri Lanka but injuries have held him back.
His BBL form was scintillating but the only takeaway from the tournament was that he was fit and looking strong. If he can get through the Sheffield Shield fit and firing, he needs to play in the first Ashes Test.
Mitchell Swepson (Queensland)
Behind Nathan Lyon, he’s the best spinner in the country and started the first half of the Shield like a house on fire.
He has 23 wickets (an astounding eight more than anyone else) from 201.2 overs (35.2 more than anyone else). He took three five-wicket hauls (no one else has two) and can continue to put his case forward for a Test debut very nicely.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Travis Head (South Australia)
Unceremoniously dropped from the Test side, the South Australian captain needs to press his case to get back in. His average of 39.8 is solid but can improve in his 19 Tests.
This Shield season has been a good one for Head. He is third on the tally for runs (455 at 65) with two hundreds and a fifty already. He is also equal with Will Pucovski with 60 boundaries.
Mark Steketee (Queensland)
The somewhat bonkers inclusion of Steketee to the Test squad to South Africa looks a fraction stranger when he’s only had seven wickets in 124 overs this season.
In 2018-19, he took the fifth equal highest wickets for the season with 42 wickets at 20.76. Will he be a potential bolter in the Ashes squad? Only he can control that.
Michael Neser (Queensland)
For the first half of the Shield season, Neser was playing like Chris Woakes. He produced damaging swing bowling and lower-order striking.
He has taken 10-244 from 111.5 overs with the second best economy of all bowlers with double-digit wickets. His 121 from 168 against Tasmania also sent the selectors a message that he’s a man to be noticed.
Josh Inglis (Western Australia)
He is a bit stiff to be seventh in the league for runs but third for your state. But that’s the case for Josh Inglis. Everyone jumping on the Josh Philippe train needs to know he’s not a Shield regular and not their keeper. Sam Whiteman is their keeper and Inglis can keep too.
He has scored 354 runs in five innings at 118. That is fantastic but he’s only faced 412 balls with a strike rate of 85.92.
He has scored two tons and a half century. He capped off a competition-leading 11 maximums. Could Inglis be the middle-order brute that the Aussies are looking for? Let’s find out.
dan ced
Guest
I'm hoping Weatherald can find some consistency in shield, and that Carey gets runs to push his case. Wes Agar has had a good season so far, and last season I thought Nick Winter did very well.
The Recalcitrant
Guest
Looking forward to watching Victoria catching up and taking the title again. Long season ahead. Will be going right up till May almost.
Simon Close
Guest
Neither Marcus Harris or Cameron Bancroft are test match quality, they will always be found out against quality bowling. It would be good to see Renshaw back at the top for QLD, I’m also keen to see Whiteman develop some more. If Patterson can put some scores together he will be in the mix for a middle order position, Head still has plenty of potential. Most of the players listed in these comments won’t make it as test batsmen, if a player can only average mid 30’s after many shield seasons, they won’t become quality test batsmen.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Just throw 'em a T20. That'll put a stop to it.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
we need to give these two (whiteman and inglis) a test game so they don’t play for the noms ..afghanistan would be perfect. not sure CA and langer are smart enough to give them a run though .
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I think the point is its exciting to have all three carey whiteman and inglis provide three new batting options with their shield averages or international experience against the best in the world in careys case. I think with Warner approaching 35 in october for next series and woefully out of form on foreign tours this ashes may be his last depending on whether they keep him on to play on home decks or let him struggle on sub continent . So we need an opener with pucovski pretty soon particularly guys that can play abroad after next summer . Wade is out and Paines days are numbered after next summer so in theory if head or mcdermott doesn’t step up whiteman and inglis are exciting prospects as carey will start sooner or later and probably improve the balance in the side with keeping batting and different captaincy
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I can't wait for this silly 5 T20 games in NZ to be over. The forgotten man of Oz cricket (and T20 player of the year), Ashton Agar returns to establish his allrounder credentials and Mitch Marsh steps up as a genuine top order batsman.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Inglis is the best gloveman in the country. It's why Whiteman no longer needs to keep and the fact he is chosen to keep ahead of Philippe and Bancroft is further testament to that. Bancroft will continue to present himself as a compelling prospect for higher honours. Both he and Whiteman have the goods.
Paul
Roar Guru
for sure, but seemingly gets no love from the national selectors
maverick
Roar Rookie
Solway is really a solid batsman.
JohnB
Roar Rookie
Patterson was unlucky not to just miss the last Ashes tour, and then was injured so not entirely burned by the selectors. He should be another to watch - there hasn't exactly been a logjam of middle order contenders lately (a reason why Renshaw batting there is no bad thing).
DTM
Roar Rookie
Whiteman is a top order batsman and still behind Warner, Pucovski and Harris (at least). Inglis is really number 6 or 7 and probably 3rd best red ball keeper behind Paine and Carey (although there's not much between him and Carey). Despite being the Australian captain, there will be pressure on Paine to perform with bat and gloves in the remaining Shield games - particularly if these guys do well.
DTM
Roar Rookie
With no test cricket, surely CA will be looking to organise a winter "camp" in NQ or NT prior to the Ashes? They could take 30 or so players there. The Shield will be useful but choosing players for November based on March/April games is fraught with danger. Not sure how many 21/22 Shield games there will be before the first test.
Tony
Roar Guru
They've churned and burned a few - Maddinson, Handsome, Renshaw, Patterson....
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yeah that has perplexed me for a while too. Looks like the second half of the season has about three quarters of the matches running across the weekend.
Anth
Roar Rookie
Yeah! Great observation John. Here was a young man who made an impact at Test level, and was for all intents and purposes neglected after his form dropped off. With a bit of nurturing and encouragement he could have been anything, but alas! The Australian system of recent times appears content to build up players then just as happily burn them.
Paul
Roar Guru
The only bowlers I'm keen to watch are Richardson & Swepson. I'm keen to see how Green goes, as well as Bryce Street, Sam Whiteman & Weatherald. I'd also like to see Daniel Solway and a forgotten bloke named Kurtis Patterson do well. I've no idea why Solway's not in the middle order conversation. IMO, he's a way better option than McDermott as his FC average of over 48 versus McDermott's 34 clearly shows. I reckon having a cricketing great as a Dad has helped a lot.
Paul
Roar Guru
That'd give the Poms 5 top notch keeper batsmen
Paul
Roar Guru
Completely agree John. Mark Taylor is another as was the current Australian coach. Both could score quickly but were far more effective IMO batting at their own steady pace.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
CA usually streams the Shield, so its available without the paywall. However, I think a lot of games are bizarrely run Monday to Thursday and similar (I need to check the schedule, but from memory quite a few games are fully weekday). While few people bother watching the Shield, it seems very odd to play so many games without a single weekend say to at least give people the option. Are the grounds cheaper midweek or something? Are the home team players then playing for their club on the Saturday - that would make it worthwhile playing midweek; just as the Shield rarely gets the Test players, club cricket rarely gets the FC players.