Langer spun out by Shield bonus points

Former Test opener Justin Langer isn’t a messy sort of bloke, but this summer’s Sheffield Shield points system has left him feeling a little untidy.

Fans have struggled to come to grips with the new bonus-points format, especially after Western Australia slipped from first to second spot over the weekend despite posting an outright victory.

Traditionally, teams were awarded two points for securing a first-innings lead, and six points if they managed to snare outright victory.

Now, no points are on offer for first-innings honours. Instead, teams can collect points for runs scored or wickets taken within the first 100 overs of each team’s first innings.

Under the old format, WA would have been two points clear on top of the table.

But they now find themselves 0.06 points behind Victoria heading into the final round.

“When I look at it, there’s numbers all over the place,” Langer said.

“It’s down to .06 of a point.

“Maybe for some people they find that really exciting. But for me, I like it nice and clean, and black and white. I’m not a messy bloke.

“That’s what I said at the start of the year, and my thinking hasn’t changed.”

Defending champions NSW, WA, and Victoria all have a chance of making the final, with hosting rights also up for grabs.

WA will play NSW at the WACA Ground, starting Friday, while Victoria face Tasmania in Alice Springs.

Warriors paceman Michael Hogan is set to return from a hamstring injury, and Langer hopes star all-rounder Nathan Coulter-Nile will also be fit to take on NSW.

“He’s pulled up sore, but that’s understandable,” Langer said of Coulter-Nile, who injured his hamstring earlier this summer.

“He’s played three straight Shield games. He hasn’t done that in the last year or two.

“We’ve got to monitor his workloads. “I’m sure the physios are a bit more nervous.

“But we know how much this game means to us to make the final, so hopefully he’ll be right.”

With WA cricket taking out both the One-Day Cup and Twenty20 crowns earlier this summer, Langer will be aiming to guide his team to triple glory with the Shield title.

HOW THE SHEFFIELD SHIELD POINTS SYSTEM WORKS

*Outright win: 6 points (no change)

*Draw: 1 point (previously 0)

*First-innings win: 0 points (previously 2)

BONUS BATTING POINTS

*For the first 100 overs – .01 points for every run above 200 (For example, 350 runs in the first 100 overs would give you 1.5 points)

BONUS BOWLING POINTS

*For the first 100 overs – 0.5 points awarded at fall of fifth wicket, seventh wicket, and ninth wicket (For example, 8 wickets in first 100 overs would give you 1 point).

*After first 100 overs, no further bonus points available to either team

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