Sheffield Shield 2023-2024

Another good win to Tasmania, this time over NSW.

WA and Tas both have three wins now and are 6 points clear of the next best side, SA.

Only QLD and NSW (Khawaja, Lyon) are likely to be disadvantaged by ‘new’ selection calls during the impending Test series. Maxwell, Carey, Abbott, Green, and perhaps Inglis might return to Shield ranks to strengthen the relevant state sides.

Maxwell rarely plays Shield cricket.

Correct. I was only pointing out how few players returning from the WC might strengthen Shield ranks. He’s one of the few returning from India who MiGHT strengthen the Shield ranks, given that he won’t be in the Test side.

Having a look at the Sheffield Shield performances this season from the openers who are vying to take Warner's spot when he pulls the pin. That's provided they don't try Head or Labuscagne in that role.

 ....................     2023/24 ......... Shield Career ......... Age
Bancroft ........ 505 @ 63.13.......6287 @ 41.64 ...........31
Whiteman...... 321 @ 40.13 ......4834 @ 36.62 ...........31

Harris ........... 273 @ 39.00 ......7082 @ 40.24............31
Pucovski........112 @ 16.00 .......1980 @ 50.77............25
Dean .............234 @ 29.25.......3604 @ 31.07............31

Renshaw .......305 @ 33.89 ......3847 @ 36.64 ...........27
Street ...........221 @ 24.56 .......1912 @ 32.41 ..........25

Ward ............208 @ 34.67 .......1316 @ 33.74 ......... 25
Jewell............149 @ 16.56 ...... 1738 @ 28.97 ......... 26
Weatherald .....41 @ 20.50 ...... 3878 @ 34.02 ......... 29

Hunt............. 271 @ 27.10 ...... 2428 @ 33.72 ......... 26
Smith .......... 101 @ 16.83 ...... . 894 @ 19.87 ......... 29
Carder ......... 111 @ 18.50 ........1021 @ 24.31 ......... 27

Hughes ........180 @ 22.50 ........4503 @ 36.91 ......... 34
Hackney       139 @ 17.38 ..........390 @ 22.94 ......... 24

Here the averages for everyone that has played this shield season:-

Batting Averages

Bowling Averages (plus fielding)

WideWally wrote:Having a look at the Sheffield Shield performances this season from the openers who are vying to take Warner's spot when he pulls the pin. That's provided they don't try Head or Labuscagne in that role.

 ....................     2023/24 ......... Shield Career ......... Age
Bancroft ........ 505 @ 63.13.......6287 @ 41.64 ...........31
Whiteman...... 321 @ 40.13 ......4834 @ 36.62 ...........31

Harris ........... 273 @ 39.00 ......7082 @ 40.24............31
Pucovski........112 @ 16.00 .......1980 @ 50.77............25
Dean .............234 @ 29.25.......3604 @ 31.07............31

Renshaw .......305 @ 33.89 ......3847 @ 36.64 ...........27
Street ...........221 @ 24.56 .......1912 @ 32.41 ..........25

Ward ............208 @ 34.67 .......1316 @ 33.74 ......... 25
Jewell............149 @ 16.56 ...... 1738 @ 28.97 ......... 26
Weatherald .....41 @ 20.50 ...... 3878 @ 34.02 ......... 29

Hunt............. 271 @ 27.10 ...... 2428 @ 33.72 ......... 26
Smith .......... 101 @ 16.83 ...... . 894 @ 19.87 ......... 29
Carder ......... 111 @ 18.50 ........1021 @ 24.31 ......... 27

Hughes ........180 @ 22.50 ........4503 @ 36.91 ......... 34
Hackney       139 @ 17.38 ..........390 @ 22.94 ......... 24

Here the averages for everyone that has played this shield season:-

Batting Averages

Bowling Averages (plus fielding)

Thanks Wally. On numbers Bancroft makes a persuasive case. Even allowing for WA roads he has been the most consistent Shield opener in recent seasons. 

Personally I will be delighted when none of Warner, Smith or Bancroft are in the team.

I still have hope for Renshaw on talent and age. 

Of the others, Harris had a big ton but it was on a road. His first innings at the G v QLD was more impressive tho the Billies were missing their two best quicks. 

Puck is head and shoulders ahead of them all but is getting out in strange and unlucky ways when looking set. His health status will remain an issue for the NSP.

Labuschagne moving up wouldn’t be the worst idea.

lardbucket wrote:Labuschagne moving up wouldn’t be the worst idea.

Now you’re talking.

Neser ...might be the way into the team

Precisely halfway through the season, and here we are:

Team, points [W L D]

TAS 28.77 [3 0 2]
WA 25.22 [3 1 1]
SA 19.89 [2 3 0]
VIC 18.34 [2 2 1]
NSW 14.35 [1 3 1]
QLD 12.83 [1 3 1]

Competition still wide open. Have to say I’m surprised and disappointed that NSW aren’t stone motherless last.

WideWally wrote:Having a look at the Sheffield Shield performances this season from the openers who are vying to take Warner's spot when he pulls the pin. That's provided they don't try Head or Labuscagne in that role.

 ....................     2023/24 ......... Shield Career ......... Age
Bancroft ........ 505 @ 63.13.......6287 @ 41.64 ...........31
Whiteman...... 321 @ 40.13 ......4834 @ 36.62 ...........31

Harris ........... 273 @ 39.00 ......7082 @ 40.24............31
Pucovski........112 @ 16.00 .......1980 @ 50.77............25
Dean .............234 @ 29.25.......3604 @ 31.07............31

Renshaw .......305 @ 33.89 ......3847 @ 36.64 ...........27
Street ...........221 @ 24.56 .......1912 @ 32.41 ..........25

Ward ............208 @ 34.67 .......1316 @ 33.74 ......... 25
Jewell............149 @ 16.56 ...... 1738 @ 28.97 ......... 26
Weatherald .....41 @ 20.50 ...... 3878 @ 34.02 ......... 29

Hunt............. 271 @ 27.10 ...... 2428 @ 33.72 ......... 26
Smith .......... 101 @ 16.83 ...... . 894 @ 19.87 ......... 29
Carder ......... 111 @ 18.50 ........1021 @ 24.31 ......... 27

Hughes ........180 @ 22.50 ........4503 @ 36.91 ......... 34
Hackney       139 @ 17.38 ..........390 @ 22.94 ......... 24

Here the averages for everyone that has played this shield season:-

Batting Averages

Bowling Averages (plus fielding)

Cheers W.

Bancroft is certainly a standout. I'm just not sold on him. But he'll prob get the nod. I'd love to see Puke come good. He looked the goods in his one and only Test.

And lets not forget this could be Ooze's last Test season as well. Smith may not have long left either. Starc is 35. Elmer is old but as an offie he prolly has a couple of years left in him.

So some renewal needed.

lardbucket wrote:Precisely halfway through the season, and here we are:

Team, points [W L D]

TAS 28.77 [3 0 2]
WA 25.22 [3 1 1]
SA 19.89 [2 3 0]
VIC 18.34 [2 2 1]
NSW 14.35 [1 3 1]
QLD 12.83 [1 3 1]

Competition still wide open. Have to say I’m surprised and disappointed that NSW aren’t stone motherless last.

Hehehe. Qld are stiff to be last. I am confident they will overtake the struggling NSW. To rework an old adage, "NSW had the the win they had to have."

Good the comp is pretty even.

I have very much enjoyed watching as much of the matches as I can. Kudos to the staff on the streamed matches. The commentators are knowledgeable and the vision this season is much improved.

Nath wrote:

lardbucket wrote:Starting tomorrow in Perth: WA v SA
Starting Thursday at the MCG: VIC v QLD
Starting Saturday at Bellerive: Tas v NSW


Auditions for Australia’s Test opening position are ongoing. Other positions are only likely to open up due to injury, at this stage.

I'm going to sound like a broken record, but is it that hard to start all 3 games on the same day?

You’ve been heard, * apparently.

Three matches start on Tuesday, 28/11 - 01/12.

NSW v Tas
QLD v WA
VIC v SA

Serious prep for the Tests …

lardbucket wrote:

Nath wrote:

lardbucket wrote:Starting tomorrow in Perth: WA v SA
Starting Thursday at the MCG: VIC v QLD
Starting Saturday at Bellerive: Tas v NSW


Auditions for Australia’s Test opening position are ongoing. Other positions are only likely to open up due to injury, at this stage.

I'm going to sound like a broken record, but is it that hard to start all 3 games on the same day?

You’ve been heard, * apparently.

Three matches start on Tuesday, 28/11 - 01/12.

NSW v Tas
QLD v WA
VIC v SA

Serious prep for the Tests …

PMs XI game starts on 6/12 - 10/12
BBL starts on 7/12

Brisbane Heat & Melbourne Stars whingeing about losing players to that PMs XI game.

WideWally wrote:Brisbane Heat & Melbourne Stars whingeing about losing players to that PMs XI game.

Heat get Ussie and Marnus to return. literally no one cares about the Stars because they are losers.

WideWally wrote:Brisbane Heat & Melbourne Stars whingeing about losing players to that PMs XI game.

They should gagf and be fined.

WA squad: Sam Whiteman (c), Cameron Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Joel Curtis, Sam Fanning, Jayden Goodwin, Cameron Green, Liam Haskett, Joel Paris, Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Charlie Stobo
 
Ins: Cooper Connolly, Joel Curtis, Sam Fanning, Cameron Green, Jhye Richardson
 
Outs: Aaron Hardie, Lance Morris, Josh Philippe, Teague Wyllie


Hoping Connolly gets a debut 

I hope JRich goes OK.

Connolly has obviously done well in Grade. Seen much of him, A?

know him well from school cricket (tla is going to the school he went to) 

hes a gun 

scored heaps in second xi ....ex Oz under 19s captain  

fast scoring left hander with all the shots (just maybe not the know how of when to use them) and a handy left arm spinner

… there is a very similar write-up on a young Allan Border in one of my old ‘Australian Cricket’ magazines!

Fingers crossed for the much needed Punter type prodigy to emerge.

Steady rain in WideWallyWorld so dunno how much more play they will get at the Gabba although it is a 50 minute drive from here.

lardbucket wrote:

Nath wrote:

lardbucket wrote:Starting tomorrow in Perth: WA v SA
Starting Thursday at the MCG: VIC v QLD
Starting Saturday at Bellerive: Tas v NSW


Auditions for Australia’s Test opening position are ongoing. Other positions are only likely to open up due to injury, at this stage.

I'm going to sound like a broken record, but is it that hard to start all 3 games on the same day?

You’ve been heard, * apparently.

Three matches start on Tuesday, 28/11 - 01/12.

NSW v Tas
QLD v WA
VIC v SA

Serious prep for the Tests …

SA v VIC: No play yet; rain

WA v QLD: QLD 0-61; Renshaw starting well, then rain

TAS v NSW: Dubbers 4-93, Henriques the only batsman so far to make a start, Neil-Smith involved in all four dismissals

… and MrK has alerted me to a Bangers v Sheep Test match under way, with the Bangers batting.

Jellies doing well. In a bonus Henry Olonga is commentating.

Puck was looking good but just hung the bat out.