While much of the focus in the coming weeks will be on the Test series in South Africa, a couple of days before that starts a new Sheffield Shield season with South Australia once again the defending champions. Depending on how Australia perform, particularly when it comes to the batting, it could yet mean significant opportunity for Shield performances to be a factor for the New Zealand series in December. Here’s how each squad looks.
Squad: Charlie Anderson (R), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins (CA), Joel Davies, Ollie Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Josh Hazlewood (CA), Ryan Hicks, Bryce Jackson, Riley Kingsell, Sam Konstas, Nathan Lyon (CA), Nic Maddinson, Jack Nisbet, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Will Salzmann, Tanveer Sangha, Jake Scott (R), Lachlan Shaw, Harjas Singh (R), Steven Smith (CA), Mitchell Starc (CA), Charlie Stobo, Adam Zampa (CA)
In: Bryce Jackson (WA), Harjas Singh
Out: Matt Gilkes (SA), Blake Nikitaras, Chris Tremain (retired)
Last season: Fifth
How they shape up
While there hasn’t been a major overhaul of the playing group, it’s been a significant off-season for NSW under new coach Brad Haddin. They started last summer with a victory but would only win one more game for the season and Greg Shipperd was sacked before the end of the campaign in acrimonious circumstances.
The attack was led superbly by Liam Hatcher (44 wickets at 19.84) while Ryan Hadley showed promise, but he faces a lengthy period on the sidelines with a stress fracture of his back. One of the key factors for NSW will be winning at their new home, Cricket Central, where they are yet to secure a Shield victory, though they were a wicket away in the final game of last summer.
Player to watch
Australia impact
There is a five-day turnaround from the end of four-day matches against India A to NSW’s first Shield game, so that may be tight for Hatcher depending on how much he has played. Konstas, Edwards and Philippe are also part of the one-day group, and will miss the first Shield game. Tanveer Sangha is also part of the 50-over matches.
Elsewhere, it will be the usual story for NSW with their main Australia players limited by international duty. There is a window in November before the New Zealand series where Nathan Lyon could be available, and in theory so could Steven Smith given he doesn’t play ODIs. The fast bowlers are likely to be carefully managed.
Queensland
Squad: Tom Balkin, Xavier Bartlett (CA), Hugo Burdon, Jack Clayton, Cameron Gannon, Lachlan Hearne, Hayden Kerr, Marnus Labuschagne (CA), Angus Lovell, Dylan McLachlan, Michael Neser (CA), Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Jem Ryan, Jack Sinfield, Mark Steketee, Tom Straker, Mitchell Swepson, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Tom Whitney, Jack Wildermuth, Tom Campbell (R), Steven Hogan (R), Charlie Lachmund (R), Oli Patterson (R)
In: Cameron Gannon (WA), Dylan McLachlan, Oli Patterson, Steven Hogan, Tom Campbell, Charlie Lachmund
Out: Gurinder Sandhu, Zanden Jeh, Benji Floros, Lachy Aitken, Max Bryant, Usman Khawaja (retired)
Last season: Third
How they shape up
Queensland will play under their third coach in four seasons after moving on from Johan Botha with a year to run on his contract. Former Bulls allrounder James Hopes takes over a young squad that has plenty of promise but will lack experience when their Australia players are away.
Botha’s axing came after they collapsed late last season having been in the box seat to play in the final with three rounds to go following a stunning away win against Shield leaders Victoria. But their batting group failed to score more than 221 in any of their last six innings in the last three games and they were fortunate that rain saved them from losing all three.
They have lost Usman Khawaja to retirement but have gained experienced seamer Cameron Gannon. He will be important in the absence of Michael Neser, who is set to be away with Australia through large parts of the first six rounds. Xavier Bartlett could play a number of games before Australia’s white-ball commitments in November. Mark Steketee is still coming back from hamstring surgery while Callum Vidler is unlikely to play any red-ball cricket prior to the BBL as he comes off a stress fracture. Tom Straker will have a big load again on his young shoulders while Jem Ryan has shown promise.
The batting is full of younger talent but experience is the major concern with Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw set to be missing for most of the season. Jack Clayton is set to be the senior figure after an injury interrupted season. Lachie Hearne is another who will need to step up. There are high hopes for Hugh Weibgen, who has started the One-Day Cup in stunning form, while there are opportunities for Hugo Burdon and Angus Lovell. Blake Nikitaras has moved from NSW without a contract but has started well in Queensland’s second XI and could get a chance early on.
Player to watch
Australia impact
Labuschagne, Renshaw and Neser will be absent for large portions of the summer due to Test duty. Renshaw might hardly play at all if he remains in Australia’s first-choice XI in all formats. Bartlett will likely only miss a handful of matches in November due to the England white-ball series.
Squad: Wes Agar, Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey (CA), Brendan Doggett (CA), Jake Fraser McGurk, Matthew Gilkes, Travis Head (CA), Henry Hunt, Hanno Jacobs, Spencer Johnson, Jake Lehmann, Ben Manenti, Nathan McAndrew, Noah McFadyen, Nathan McSweeney, Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope, Henry Thornton, Campbell Thompson, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Mackenzie Harvey, Jerrssis Wadia, Jake Weatherald (CA), Thomas Brown (R), Kane Halfpenny (R), Douwtjie Hoogenboezem (R), Hayden Schiller (R)
In: Matthew Gilkes (NSW), Noah McFadyen, Jerrssis Wadia, Jake Weatherald (Tasmania), Thomas Brown, Kane Halfpenny, Hayden Schiller
Out: Conor McInerney, Daniel Drew, Thomas Kelly, Aidan Cahill, Harry Matthias
Last season: Winners
How they shape up
Defending their Sheffield Shield title was, in many ways, more remarkable than their drought-breaking success in 2024-25 for South Australia. Victoria had one hand on the trophy but South Australia were able to defend 196 after a brilliant century from Alex Carey. Now they are hunting a hat-trick. There has been some movement among fringe players in the squad, but also the significant arrival of Jake Weatherald after he left Tasmania.
“We’ve won a couple [of titles]. It’s not a fluke, but it’s not something that we are just happy with, we want to keep winning,” head coach Ryan Harris told Cricinfo. “So I’ve challenged the players with that… to keep getting better. I’m confident we’re in a good spot.”
Player to watch
“A positive and a negative,” was how Harris put it to Cricinfo. “He’s come back really determined to try and force his way back.”
All Weatherald can initially do is churn out runs while events in South Africa unfold and show the selectors his technical changes are bedding down. It could well be that the opening debate is reignited before the New Zealand series in December.
Australia impact
Carey and Travis Head are unlikely to be available much, if at all, due to international duty, but Doggett, who has been released early from the Australia A four-day squad, will be around a lot more. Captain Nathan McSweeney, who will want better returns than last-season’s average of 28.05, will miss the opening Shield match as he is part of one-day squad as well in India, as is Scott. Jason Sangha is only there for the four-day games. Spencer Johnson is not yet in the frame for red-ball cricket after his back injury.
Tasmania
Squad: Marcus Bean, Gabe Bell, Jackson Bird, Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis (CA), Brad Hope, Caleb Jewell, Matthew Kuhnemann (CA), Raf MacMillian, Caelan Maladay, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Mitch Owen, Will Prestwidge, Nivethan Radhakrishnan, Jordan Silk, Billy Stanlake, Tim Ward, Beau Webster (CA), Teague Wyllie, Kasey Barton (R), Zac Curtain (R), Aidan O’Connor (R), Nitesh Samuel (R), William Taylor (R)
In: Teague Wyllie (WA), Caelan Maladay, Nikhil Chaudhary, Ben McDermott, Kasey Barton, Nitesh Samuel, William Taylor
Out: Jake Weatherald (SA), Kieran Elliott (WA), Mac Wright, Charlie Wakim
Last season: Fourth
How they shape up
Tasmania will hope to re-emerge from the slump from last year that saw them finish mid-table. Their batting let them down on the whole, posting only five totals of more than 260 across the season. They have lost their best batting performer over the last three seasons in Weatherald after he returned to South Australia. Ben McDermott returns on contract after playing some white-ball cricket as an uncontracted player last year. They have also added youngster Teague Wyllie from Western Australia and he arrives with high hopes after scoring a century for the Cricket Australia XI against Bangladesh in August. Veteran performers in Jordan Silk, Jake Doran, Tim Ward and Caleb Jewell remain part of the squad and will need to lead the charge while Beau Webster is away on Test duty.
Riley Meredith and Gabe Bell will lead the attack again after both took 30 wickets last year. The national selectors are hoping Billy Stanlake could push for Test selection but his fitness remains an issue. He suffered a side strain on the recent ODI tour of Zimbabwe after only playing three Shield games last year. Jackson Bird will play on despite turning 40 in December. Kieran Elliott has moved to WA but Tasmania have added tall left-arm pacer Marcus Bean to the state squad after eye-catching performances in the BBL for Hobart Hurricanes.
In the spin department, Matt Kuhnemann will be missing for large chunks of the season but Nikhil Chaudhary, as a spin-bowling allrounder, and offspinner Raf MacMillan could get some opportunities.
Player to watch
Australia impact
Webster is unlikely to be available for much of the summer due to Test duty although he may get a game or two in during November. Kuhnemann will be available after the South Africa series but is unlikely to play much post the BBL because of the India tour. Meredith, Mitch Owen and Chaudhary will miss the opening round with Australia A duty. Chaudhary could also miss a game or two in December if he remains in the T20I squad for the England series. Stanlake is another who could be pulled into those white-ball games if fit. Nathan Ellis will almost certainly be part of that but has not played red-ball cricket for his state since 2023.
Victoria
Squad: Austin Anlezark, Liam Blackford, Scott Boland (CA), Dylan Brasher, Ashley Chandrasinghe, Harry Dixon, Sam Elliott, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, Blake Macdonald, Cam McClure, David Moody, Todd Murphy (CA), Fergus O’Neill, Oliver Peake, Mitch Perry, Tyler Pearson, Tom Rogers, Will Sutherland, Doug Warren, Harry Hoekstra (R), Tom Paddington (R), Aryan Sharma (R)
In: Harry Hoekstra, Tom Paddington, Aryan Sharma
Out: Xavier Crone, Jai Lemire, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Callum Stow
Last season: Runners up
How they shape up
Victoria shape as one of the teams to beat after falling agonisingly short last season. They have retained their entire squad and appear to be building more depth behind the scenes.
They thoroughly dominated the home and away season last summer, winning a record-equalling seven games on the back of a well-balanced pace attack and a batting line-up scoring enough runs. The batting was led by the surprise package of the year in Sam Harper at the top of the order, and the steady hand of Peter Handscomb in the middle. They looked on track to win the final until a stunning rearguard partnership from Carey and McAndrew flipped the script and a fourth-innings collapse sealed defeat.
They face three major hurdles this summer.
The first will be how to manage the attack given there will be some comings and goings due to Australia and Australia A duties with the likes of Scott Boland and Todd Murphy set to be in and out at times.
The second will be how they shape the batting order. They have a lot of depth with Harper, Campbell Kellaway, Marcus Harris, Handscomb, Ollie Peake, Dylan Brasher, Tom Rogers, Harry Dixon, Ashley Chandrasinghe, Blake Macdonald and an uncontracted Matt Short all available and vying for definitive roles within the top six.
The third will be overcoming the mental scarring with an admission from both captain and coach after last summer’s final that it was the most soul-destroying defeat of three Shield finals they have fallen short in over a five-year stretch.
Player to watch
Australia impact
Boland is unlikely to be available much prior to the BBL, although if he does not play a big part in the South Africa series he will need some cricket in November before New Zealand tour Australia in December. They will miss Harper for the first few rounds due to his elevation into the Test squad. Murphy will miss the opening round due to Australia A duty and looks almost certain to miss at least rounds seven, eight and nine after the BBL due to Australia’s Test tour of India. Handscomb is another in the frame for that tour while skipper Will Sutherland will miss the opening round due to Australia A’s white-ball tour of India.
Western Australia
Squad: Cameron Bancroft, Mahli Beardman, Simon Budge (R), Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Joel Curtis, Kieran Elliott, Albert Esterhuysen (R), Sam Fanning, Jayden Goodwin, Cameron Green (CA), Aaron Hardie, Liam Haskett, Josh Inglis (CA), Will Malajczuk, Mitchell Marsh (CA), Tom Murray, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, Jordan Quiggin (R), Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Ashton Turner, Corey Wasley (R) Sam Whiteman
In: Kieran Elliott (Tasmania), Will Malajczuk, Tom Murray
Out: Keaton Critchell, Cameron Gannon (Qld), Baxter Holt, Bryce Jackson (NSW), Teague Wyllie (Tas), Matt Kelly (retired)
Last season: Sixth
How they shape up
WA begin a new era under new leadership with Beau Casson taking over as head coach and Hardie appointed as Shield captain. The squad has already begun a significant transition having finished last in each of the past two seasons.
WA struggled with the bat last summer with only three players scoring centuries and only two, Cameron Green and Sam Fanning, averaging more than 34. Their leading wicket-taker, Gannon, has also returned to Queensland. Shield winner Matt Kelly has retired while young batter Wyllie has moved to Tasmania.
There will be opportunities for Fanning and Jayden Goodwin to establish themselves in a new-look top-order. Wicketkeeper Joel Curtis will also get to play most of the summer again with Inglis unlikely to be available for much domestic cricket due to international duty. There is some talent coming from the Under-19s in Will Malajczuk and Simon Budge but whether either is ready for Shield cricket remains to be seen.
WA regain some firepower with the ball with Jhye Richardson hoping to be fit for most of the year after a wretched run while Morris returns from back surgery, albeit he has already suffered a side strain in September. Beardman is unlikely to play much red-ball cricket but there are high hopes for Brody Couch, Albert Esterhuysen and Liam Haskett. They have recruited a durable body in Keiran Elliott from Tasmania while Joel Paris and Corey Rocchiccioli remain the bedrock of the attack.
Player to watch
Australia impact
As always, WA will plan to be without Green, Inglis and Cooper Connolly for the majority of the year. The unknown will be whether Richardson and Morris are called up to Australia squads at any stage if they are fit and bowling well. The other uncertainty is whether Rocchiccioli will be sent to India with the Test squad in February and March, which would rule him out of three Shield rounds. Hardie is on the outer with Australia’s white-ball teams at the moment but he was selected for Australia A’s white-ball tour of India before a minor injury ruled him out. Some strong early-season form when he returns might see him considered to face England in a white-ball tpir that coincides with a run of Shield games before the BBL.
