From the basement to the mantlepiece, Victoria have revived their Sheffield Shield standing and claimed top prize.
Just a season after finishing last, the Bushrangers on Wednesday held aloft the Shield for the 29th time, in an effort that thrilled veteran player David Hussey.
“We came from the proverbial to the penthouse and I think that speaks volumes of the players’ group, our attitude and how we want to improve and actually put Victorian Cricket where it belongs,” Hussey told reporters after the match.
“We’re back on top at the moment and we’ve got to stay up there for years to come.”
The prize caps off a five-day decider against Western Australia in Hobart, which Hussey said at times proved gruelling.
“The wicket was pretty flat, pretty placid I guess, but it’s probably more of a mental grind.”
Early on Wednesday, WA declared at 2-293 with a 333-run lead, needing to dismiss the Bushrangers for an outright victory to clinch the Shield, while top-finishing Victoria needed only a draw.
And after a numbing final session, which at one stage involved eight overs being bowled without score, Victoria finished on 4-158 and the final ended in a draw.
Hussey, 37, a four-time Shield winner who wouldn’t confirm if he’d be back for another season, said he would have preferred Victoria claimed the title with a win.
But he said it was a hard-fought draw and the side overcame many hurdles throughout the season, including numerous home games played outside Victoria.
“It was always going to be hard, but we actually knew it in advance whereas, in previous years, we were completely outplayed all year in Sheffield Shield cricket,” Hussey said.
After finishing second in the competition for two successive years, WA coach Justin Langer was scathing of the choice of finals venues, both Bellerive Oval and last season at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.
“When you arrive and basically know it’s going to be almost impossible to get 20 wickets to win the game on a one-day (type) wicket in a neutral venue, it’s pretty disappointing,” Langer told reporters.
“That might sound like sour grapes but that’s just me being as honest as I can.”
Despite his complaints, however, there were some standout performances from the WA lineup, including a first-innings century from skipper Adam Voges, who is also the competition’s top run-scorer and player of the year.
Voges’ sixth century for the season pushes his case for Test selection ahead of Australia’s mid-year tours of the West Indies and England.
He has the support of his coach, with Langer admitting he’s had a word with national selectors about the 35-year-old.
“Adam Voges has to get selected for, if not the West Indies, then the Ashes tour. No one deserves it more.”
For Victoria, spinner Fawad Ahmed ended with the best bowling figures for a Shield final, taking 8-89 during WA’s first innings.
As selectors look to take two spinners on tour, the Pakistan-born specialist is sure to come into consideration.
VICTORIA IN SHEFFIELD SHIELD:
* 2013-14: finished last
* 2014-15: finished first
* Last title: 2009-10
* Number of titles: 29
FINAL STANDINGS 2014-15:
* 1. Victoria
* 2. Western Australia
* 3. New South Wales
* 4. Queensland
* 5. Tasmania
* 6. South Australia
