It’s scary to think where the current Australian Test cricket team is at five months out from the Ashes, with the middle order unknown and experienced players lacking the runs under the belt.
However, Cricket Australia has made one of its smartest decisions in recent memory, moving the domestic season forward to allow players to come into the international summer in form.
The Sheffield Shield competition will begin in September for only the second time in its 129-year history due to Australia’s defence of the urn beginning in early December in Brisbane.
With many of Australia’s superstars either taking the winter off due to scepticism surrounding COVID-19 or injury, the choice to start the season early offers a chance for them to reach their peak before England bowl a ball.
After a demoralising previous summer against India, where Australia’s lack of batting depth was exposed, it is crucial that they select players who are red hot. The six Shield games for each state that will be played before the first Test will be a trial for many batsmen who dream of representing Australia.
An area of the team up for grabs is the middle order, which has lacked consistent individuals for a few years.
Players such as Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh and Matthew Wade have been in and out due to inconsistency, which has reflected Australia’s sporadic performances.
Shaun Marsh (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The Sheffield Shield could either provide the opportunity for players such as these to redeem themselves or for new blood to be brought into the squad. Western Australia’s Cameron Green is suring up to bat at number six against England but there is a chance for other players to steal his spot.
But what this change in cricketing calendar most importantly offers is an opportunity for emerging players to test their ability against some of the country’s incumbents.
Over the last decade in particular, the international season has run over the domestic season, meaning current Test cricketers didn’t play many state matches.
With a three-month window for this to occur, young players will either play with or against world-class cricketers. Through doing so you’d have to believe they would learn some vital lessons and strengthen the next crop.
Could this early start be Australia’s selection saviour or could it pose as a window for more injuries?
Tom
June through to October are generally the driest months of the year here
Micko
Roar Rookie
I was working on the assumption that September games in Brisbane are iffy. Is Brisbane pretty dry then is it?
Tom
Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane too
Micko
Roar Rookie
You got Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, and maybe even Alice Springs that can host September games. Maybe Broome, Kununurra, Karratha or Port Hedland here in WA might have facilities to use for games?
Two Slips and a Gully
Roar Rookie
I think Darwin is an under utilised part of Australia in terms of cricket. The climate up there would allow games to be played during winter time. Greg Chappell made a similar suggestion to starting Shield early and play games in Darwin to avoid the weather and then as the ‘proper’ cricket season starts and footy season finishes the games move back to regular home venues
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
Hi Ely, I think you've raised a good discussion to have. Maybe there is a way around it but scheduling matches for Hobart and Melbourne may be tricky if we go earlier. At that time of year Melbourne is capable of washing out everything, including hanging out the washing. Then again, quite possibly the grade season is underway early anyway. To help ready players I'd also like to see the Australia A format used again this season.
Ely Corliss
Roar Rookie
That last sentence is so true!! Hopefully this change in the calendar works well and they make it a permanent thing.
Sean Appoo
Roar Rookie
I grew up in a time where the Sheffield Shield seemed to have a really high profile. Lots of Shield and Test players also played club cricket as the administrators and the players themselves understood the importance of competition and development pathways. It definitely seems like that has not been the case for a long time and it shows in our lack of depth. We don't have the Hussey, Lehmann, or Siddons stories anymore where they scored 5,000+ runs before getting a gig (or not), or bowlers taking 50+ wickets in Shield seasons and not getting picked for test matches. The gap between Cricket Australia contracted players and the rest seems like daylight.
Ely Corliss
Roar Rookie
Hi Paul, Cricket Australia announced it yesterday and I read a couple of articles on it that I'll link below. I agree. Sheffield Shield was once a spectacle that people went and watched in person because it meant something so it's great to see some real importance placed on it once again. I'm pretty confident that even when some of our cricketers who play all three formats return from the World Cup that they'll slot straight into the Shield comp. https://www.cricket.com.au/news/sheffield-shield-schedule-australia-test-team-ashes-england-afghanistan-test-early-start/2021-07-20 https://thewest.com.au/sport/cricket/shield-moves-to-september-for-ashes-run-in-c-3455506
Paul
Roar Guru
Thanks for posting your first article Ely. I think the Shield competition is the most important series of matches in Australian cricket, but Cricket Australia seems to think it rates well behind all international cricket and the BBL. I wondered where you got the information that the season would start in September? I've been looking for a schedule for ages and have'n seen anything? I'm also wondering how many Test guys will play in the early rounds, with the T20 World Cup likely to be a priority for most? I want guys to play 4 day cricket, so we've got guys in good red ball form prior to the Ashes, but I suspect many will be absent in the UAE when the comp starts.