(Getty Images)
Australia’s versatile cricketers are poised to undergo their most extensive red-ball preparation in half a decade, thanks to the opportunity to participate in as many as four Sheffield Shield matches. This crucial build-up comes ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, slated to be hosted at home later this year.
In an announcement on Thursday, July 25, Cricket Australia (CA) unveiled the upcoming domestic summer schedule. Alongside the revamped men’s One-Day Cup, which typically featured seven matches in recent seasons, the Sheffield Shield is set to provide ample opportunities for players to refine their skills. Additionally, a new women’s T20 competition will precede the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), promising an exciting season for women’s cricket enthusiasts as well.
Australia’s multi-format cricketers set to receive optimal Sheffield Shield preparation ahead of India Test Series.
Australia’s multi-format cricketers are gearing up for an extended Sheffield Shield campaign, a rare opportunity ahead of their crucial quest to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from India in a five-match Test series. Following their final white-ball assignment overseas on September 29 in England, players will have a brief respite before the Sheffield Shield kicks off on October 8. Even if some fast bowlers opt for initial rest, each state will host three more Shield fixtures before the squad assembles for the first Test commencing on November 22 in Perth.
The dynamics of player availability add intrigue: Australia’s ODI and Test skipper Pat Cummins will skip the limited-overs tour of England entirely, while Mitchell Starc will participate only in the ODI series. Conversely, Josh Hazlewood plans to compete in both the ODI and T20I legs of the tour.
Recent Shield participation varies among these stars: Starc was active for New South Wales (NSW) during the 2020-21 season, but Cummins and Hazlewood haven’t featured since November 2019. Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh, Australia’s T20I captain, has played just two Shield matches since 2019.
The upcoming limited-overs series against Pakistan, starting November 4, adds another layer of complexity to player availability. With a Test series on the horizon immediately after, only those not in contention for the Test squad might feature in the three-match ODI series against Pakistan, depending on scheduling and selectors’ decisions.
Australia seeking an extra batsman for upcoming home Tests.
Furthermore, the scheduling of two Australia A versus India A matches in late October adds another layer of complexity to player availability for domestic competitions. Despite this, the upcoming Sheffield Shield fixtures will offer significant opportunities for players such as Matt Renshaw, Marcus Harris, and Cameron Bancroft to bolster their claims for selection in the impending five-match Test series against India.
While Australia’s Test squad remains largely settled, there is a notable vacancy for a backup batter ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australian chief selector George Bailey has highlighted the absence of a clear successor to fill the roles previously held by Steven Smith or Usman Khawaja, particularly as Renshaw, Harris, and Bancroft were not included in the recent national contracts.
Bailey indicated the selectors’ focus on identifying a specialist opener for the long term, considering Smith’s temporary stint as opener last summer following David Warner’s absence. The Sheffield Shield will feature six rounds before a hiatus for the Big Bash League (BBL), followed by four additional matches scheduled for February-March, providing ample opportunity for players to stake their claims.
