SHEFFIELD SHIELD FORM GUIDE
NSW
Last season: Champions
Last Shield title: 2013/14
Last season’s stars: Most runs: Ryan Carters (861). Most wickets: Steve O’Keefe (41)
Odds to win: $3.50 (Tab Sportsbet); $4.00 (Sportingbet)
Trumpcards: Moises Henriques, Pat Cummins
One to watch: Harry Conway
The defending champs loom as the state to beat but again will have to dive deep into their talent pool to cover their Australian players, with a dozen frontliners on national duties at the start of the season. The Blues have potential game-breakers with the bat such as Ryan Carters and Nic Maddinson, and their bowling stocks remain excellent with newcomer Harry Conway, a 22-year-old 200cm tall rookie paceman, the latest in a long line of quicks.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Last season: Second
Last Shield title: 1998/99
Last season’s stars: Most runs: Marcus North (886). Most wickets: Jason Behrendorff (40)
Odds to win: $5.00 (Tab Sportsbet); $5.00 (Sportingbet)
Trumpcards: Adam Voges, Jason Behrendorff
One to watch: Sam Whiteman
Last season’s runners-up have replaced one run glutton with another – retired stalwart Marcus North with Michael Klinger from South Australia. The Warriors should have minimal disruption from national call-ups and boast a largely unheralded yet effective batting line-up headed by Shaun Marsh and skipper Adam Voges. Their bowling also remains widely unsung but the likes of Jason Behrendorff and Nathan Coulter-Nile can tear through opposing batters, while precociously talented gloveman/batsman Whiteman is on the rise.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Last year: Third
Last Shield title: 1995/96
Last season’s stars: Most runs: Tom Cooper (881). Most wickets: Chadd Sayers (36)
Odds to win: $9.00 (Tab Sportsbet); $9.00 (Sportingbet)
Trumpcards: Phil Hughes, Chadd Sayers
One to watch: Jake Lehmann
The long-time whipping boys were a fraction from last year’s final, finishing third on run quotient. Have lost run-machine Klinger but regain strokeplayer Mark Cosgrove from Tasmania. Will privately hope Phil Hughes remains on the fringe of the Australian side so he plays more games while batsman Jake Lehmann, son of Darren, is pressing for selection. Solid bowling attack headlined by swingman Sayers, quick Kane Richardson with spin support from emerging leggie Adam Zampa and captain Johan Botha.
QUEENSLAND
Last year: Fourth
Last Shield title: 2011/12
Last season’s stars: Most runs: Peter Forrest (823). Most wickets: James Hopes (38)
Odds to win: $4.50 (Tab Sportsbet); $4.00 (Sportingbet)
Trumpcards: Usman Khawaja, Ben Cutting
One to watch: Ben McDermott
The perennial powerhouses are again among the bookmaker’s favourites, boasting prolific run-makers in Peter Forrest, Khawaja and Joe Burns and the all-round skills of captain James Hopes. Their pace brigade does appear worrisome – without Test spearhead Ryan Harris for much of the campaign, the Bulls will rely on continued improvement from the likes of Ben Cutting and Alister McDermott, whose younger brother Ben, a richly-talented 19-year-old batsmen, is in the selection frame.
TASMANIA
Last year: Fifth
Last Shield title: 2012/13
Last season’s stars: Most runs: Ben Dunk (636). Most wickets: Sam Rainbird (27)
Odds to win: $5.00 (Tab Sportsbet); $6.00 (Sportingbet)
Trumpcards: James Faulkner, Tim Paine
One to watch: Hamish Kingston
The Tigers are putting the heat on their batsmen to pile on the runs, particularly a top order headlined by Alex Doolan, George Bailey and Ed Cowan and bolstered by the signing of Michael Hill from Victoria. Will lean heavily on fringe internationals – the feats of Ben Hilfenhaus, James Faulkner, Jackson Bird, Xavier Doherty will be vital. If they, and gloveman/batsman Tim Paine, hit their straps and can lead the likes of 23-year-old quick Hamish Kingston, the Tigers will be formidable.
VICTORIA
Last year: Sixth
Last shield title: 2009/10
Last season’s stars: Most runs: Rob Quiney (680). Most wickets: John Hastings (27)
Odds to win: $6.00 (Tab Sportsbet); $5.50 (Sportingbet)
Trumpcards: David Hussey, Fawad Ahmed
One to watch: Alex Keath.
Keen to erase a woeful last Shield campaign which featured just one outright win, the Bushrangers have a talented core to worry any opponent – from veteran batsmen David Hussey, Cameron White and Rob Quiney, to game-changing allrounder Dan Christian and wily bowler John Hastings. But the Vics need their lesser lights, including legspinner Fawad Ahmed and emerging star Alex Keath, to live up to their potential and offer more help to the senior guys.