South Australian cricket stalwarts Michael Klinger and Callum Ferguson are confused.
How can their team be in with a shot of hosting the one-day final, yet be so poor in the four-dayer format?
The Redbacks will go top of the one-day table with a win over Victoria in Tuesday’s limited-overs match in Adelaide.
But they haven’t won a Sheffield Shield game in 15 months.
“That is where a few of the questions come up,” Ferguson said on Monday, a day after their latest Shield loss – a 186-run hammering from Victoria.
“Why haven’t we been able to do it in the four-day comp? It’s disappointing.
“But we’re really excited about the one-day competition, we have got an opportunity to win ourselves into the final.”
SA sit second on the one-day ladder with two games remaining; they’re four points behind Tasmania but with a game in hand over the Tigers.
The Bushrangers are fourth, five points behind SA.
Redbacks skipper Klinger admits to frustration at the disparity between his side’s one-day and Shield form.
“Morale swaps and changes a fair bit depending on the squad and what game we’re going into,” Klinger said.
“It has certainly been an up and down season.”
SA have two bowlers in the one-day tournament’s top eight wicket-takers – though both of them, Dan Christian (Australian duties) and Kane Richardson (back injury), will miss Tuesday’s fixture.
The Bushrangers made six changes from their last one-day side, with Brad Hodge (retired) and in-form Australian trio David Hussey, Matthew Wade and Clint McKay among the missing.
Paceman Peter Siddle and batsman Aaron Finch headline an inclusions list also featuring spinner Daniel Salpietro, in line for a one-day debut after playing for the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League.
“Hopefully we can continue our Sheffield Shield form into the one-day cup,” Bushrangers one-day coach Simon Helmot said.
“It will be good to have Siddsy and Finchy back.
“We’ll have to be at our best to win an important match for our finals aspirations.”
Teams:
SA: Michael Klinger (capt), Cameron Borgas, Tom Cooper, Adam Crosthwaite, Theo Doropoulos, Callum Ferguson, Jake Haberfield, Daniel Harris, Joe Mennie, Aaron O’Brien, Gary Putland, Chad Sayers, James Smith (12th man to be named, one to be omitted).
Victoria: Cameron White (capt), Ryan Carters, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Jayde Herrick, Jon Holland, Alex Keath, Andrew McDonald, Rob Quiney, Daniel Salpietro, Will Sheridan, Peter Siddle (12th man to be named).