2020–21 Sheffield Shield season
| Dates | 10 October 2020 – 19 April 2021 |
|---|---|
| Administrator(s) | Cricket Australia |
| Cricket format | First-class |
| Tournament format(s) | Double round-robin and final |
| Champions | Queensland (9th title) |
| Participants | 6 |
| Matches | 25 |
| Player of the series | Nathan Lyon (NSW) |
| Most runs | Cameron Green (922) |
| Most wickets | Nathan Lyon (42) |
The 2020–21 Sheffield Shield season was the 119th season of the Sheffield Shield, the domestic first-class cricket competition in Australia.[1] On 26 June 2020, Cricket Australia confirmed all the squads for the 2020–21 domestic cricket season.[2][3] Cricket Australia also confirmed that the tournament would use the Kookaburra ball for all the matches,[4] after using the Duke ball since the 2016–17 season.[5] New South Wales were the defending champions.[6][7]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first four rounds of the season are being played at four venues in Adelaide.[8] With further restrictions due to the pandemic in Australia, the first round match between New South Wales and Victoria was scheduled to take place from 17 November 2020,[9] because of extra measures for people travelling into South Australia from Victoria.[10] However, on 12 October 2020, Victoria's first two matches were postponed due to the extra quarantine restrictions.[11]
Round three of the tournament saw a new record partnership set in a Sheffield Shield match. Marcus Harris and Will Pucovski of Victoria scored 486 runs for the first wicket, in the match against South Australia.[12] The previous record was held by Mark and Steve Waugh, making 464 for New South Wales against Western Australia in the 1990–91 tournament.[13]
On 16 December 2020, Cricket Australia confirmed the remaining schedule of the tournament,[14] when the tournament was shortened by one round.[15] On 10 February 2021, the tournament was shortened further by one round,[16] with the final starting on 15 April 2021.[17] Queensland won the tournament, beating New South Wales by an innings and 33 runs in the final.[18]
Points table[]
| Team[19] | Pld | W | L | D | MA | BP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Queensland
|
8 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 11.17 | 33.17 |
 New South Wales
|
8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 10.51 | 31.51 |
 Western Australia
|
8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 11.37 | 28.37 |
 Tasmania
|
8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13.11 | 28.11 |
 Victoria
|
8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 9.76 | 21.76 |
 South Australia
|
8 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 7.82 | 12.82 |
Round-Robin stage[]
Round 1[]
10–13 October 2020
Scorecard |
v
|
South Australia (H) | |
314 (114 overs)
Jake Weatherald 105 (160) Ashton Agar 5/103 (33 overs) | ||
177 (82.3 overs)
Travis Head 54 (105) Joel Paris 2/10 (10.3 overs) |
- Western Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
- Lance Morris (Western Australia) made his first-class debut.
- Lloyd Pope (South Australia) became the first leg spinner in 50 years to take a five-wicket haul on the opening day of a Sheffield Shield season.[20]
- Josh Inglis (Western Australia) scored his maiden first-class century.[21]
- Ashton Agar (Western Australia) became the 28th player to score a century and take a five-wicket haul in the same Sheffield Shield match.[22]
10–13 October 2020
Scorecard |
Tasmania
|
v
|
Queensland |
529 (156.3 overs)
Marnus Labuschagne 167 (230) Nathan Ellis 3/99 (32 overs) | ||
210 (129.2 overs)
Jordan Silk 56 (201) Mitchell Swepson 4/66 (45.2 overs) |
- Tasmania won the toss and elected to bat.
- Park 25 hosted its maiden first-class cricket match.[23]
- Michael Neser (Queensland) scored his maiden first-class century.[24] Neser also became the 27th player to score a century and take a five-wicket haul in the same Sheffield Shield match.[22]
Round 2[]
19–22 October 2020
Scorecard |
South Australia
|
v
|
Tasmania |
5/347 (128 overs)
Travis Head 171* (256) Jackson Bird 2/53 (23 overs) |
- South Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
19–22 October 2020
Scorecard |
v
|
||
6/443d (141 overs)
Moises Henriques 167 (276) Ashton Agar 2/106 (40 overs) |
534 (167.5 overs)
Cameron Green 197 (438) Sean Abbott 6/89 (32.5 overs) | |
2/107 (34 overs)
Kurtis Patterson 48 (79) Cameron Gannon 1/22 (9 overs) |
- Western Australia won the toss and elected to field.
Round 3[]
30 October–2 November 2020
Scorecard |
v
|
Tasmania | |
302 (89.1 overs)
Shaun Marsh 115 (242) Nathan Ellis 4/76 (17.1 overs) |
432 (128.3 overs)
Ben McDermott 90 (220) Lance Morris 5/94 (20.3 overs) | |
5/436d (100 overs)
Sam Whiteman 118 (192) Nathan Ellis 2/108 (121) |
- Tasmania won the toss and elected to field.
- Shaun Marsh (Western Australia) scored his 30th century in first-class cricket.[26]
- Lance Morris (Western Australia) took his maiden first-class five-wicket haul.
30 October–2 November 2020
Scorecard |
South Australia
|
v
|
|
200 (80 overs)
Henry Hunt 50 (108) Will Sutherland 3/26 (16 overs) |
||
8/384 (160 overs)
Travis Head 151 (296) Scott Boland 6/61 (33 overs) |
- South Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
- Zak Evans and Mitchell Perry (Victoria) both made their first-class debuts.
- Marcus Harris and Will Pucovski (Victoria) made the highest ever partnership in Sheffield Shield history, scoring 486 runs for the first wicket. The previous record was held by Mark and Steve Waugh, making 464 for New South Wales against Western Australia in the 1990–91 tournament.[27]
30 October–2 November 2020
Scorecard |
Queensland
|
v
|
|
298 (97.2 overs)
Marnus Labuschagne 117 (203) Mitchell Starc 4/76 (24 overs) |
283 (81.1 overs)
Sean Abbott 66 (77) Mitchell Swepson 5/97 (23 overs) | |
190 (63.5 overs)
Matt Renshaw 42 (115) Trent Copeland 5/17 (18 overs) |
9/206 (78.3 overs)
Daniel Solway 52 (129) Mitchell Swepson 5/74 (29 overs) |
- New South Wales won the toss and elected to field.
Round 4[]
8–11 November 2020
Scorecard |
v
|
||
4/199 (86 overs)
Marcus Harris 45 (150) Aaron Hardie 2/19 (11 overs) |
- Western Australia won the toss and elected to field.
8–11 November 2020
Scorecard |
v
|
Tasmania | |
64 (30.3 overs)
Mitchell Starc 18 (22) Jackson Bird 4/14 (10.3 overs) |
239 (94.1 overs)
Jordan Silk 106 (264) Sean Abbott 4/33 (21.1 overs) | |
8–11 November 2020
Scorecard |
Queensland
|
v
|
South Australia |
154 (64.4 overs)
Will Bosisto 38 (139) Mitchell Swepson 5/55 (25 overs) | ||
385 (158 overs)
Harry Nielsen 114 (260) Mark Steketee 4/43 (28 overs) |
Round 5[]
17–20 February 2021
Scorecard |
v
|
||
165 (80.3 overs)
Moises Henriques 67 (170) Mitchell Perry 3/25 (17 overs) |
200 (74 overs)
Nic Maddinson 77 (80) Nathan Lyon 6/21 (16 overs) | |
175 (50 overs)
Sean Abbott 73 (75) Scott Boland 4/57 (16 overs) |
6/143 (57.1 overs)
Nic Maddinson 44 (77) Nathan Lyon 4/57 (28.1 overs) |
- Victoria won the toss and elected to field.
- Nathan Lyon (New South Wales) took his 600th first-class wicket.[32]
17–20 February 2021
Scorecard |
Tasmania
|
v
|
Queensland |
- Queensland won the toss and elected to field.
- Matthew Kuhnemann (Queensland) made his first-class debut.
- Caleb Jewell (Tasmania) scored his maiden first-class century.[33]
25–28 February 2021
Scorecard |
South Australia
|
v
|
|
8/510d (124.5 overs)
Travis Head 223 (245) Cameron Green 3/119 (28 overs) |
||
9/148 (75 overs)
Shaun Marsh 45 (95) Daniel Worrall 4/30 (20 overs) |
- South Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
- Travis Head (South Australia) scored his maiden double century in first-class cricket.[34]
25–28 February 2021
Scorecard |
v
|
||
190 (67.1 overs)
Matthew Short 94 (184) Harry Conway 6/39 (15.1 overs) |
364 (114.1 overs)
Moises Henriques 141 (202) James Pattinson 4/60 (26 overs) | |
4/270 (129 overs)
Peter Handscomb 124* (327) Nathan Lyon 2/64 (40 overs) |
- New South Wales won the toss and elected to field.
Round 6[]
5–8 March 2021
Scorecard |
Tasmania
|
v
|
Victoria (H) |
188 (66.1 overs)
Jake Doran 52 (99) Scott Boland 4/44 (17.1 overs) |
199 (84.5 overs)
Peter Handscomb 73 (115) Jackson Bird 4/43 (22.5 overs) | |
263 (127.3 overs)
Jake Doran 98 (237) James Pattinson 3/54 (26 overs) |
1/122 (37.2 overs)
Peter Handscomb 54* (68) Peter Siddle 1/16 (9 overs) |
- Victoria won the toss and elected to field.
6–9 March 2021
Scorecard |
South Australia
|
v
|
|
8/428d (132 overs)
Alex Carey 125 (214) Nathan Lyon 5/152 (45 overs) |
||
6/178d (54 overs)
Travis Head 44 (76) Nathan Lyon 2/44 (21 overs) |
4/298 (70.1 overs)
Sean Abbott 83 (102) Travis Head 1/29 (8 overs) |
- South Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
- Joe Medew-Ewen (South Australia) made his first-class debut.
6–9 March 2021
Scorecard |
v
|
Queensland (H) | |
5/458d (124 overs)
Cameron Green 251 (343) Jack Wildermuth 2/60 (20 overs) |
9/600d (179.5 overs)
Matt Renshaw 139 (230) Jake Carder 3/134 (31.5 overs) | |
4/178 (58 overs)
Jake Carder 57* (115) Jack Wildermuth 2/30 (9 overs) |
- Queensland won the toss and elected to field.
- Cameron Green (Western Australia) scored his maiden double century in first-class cricket.[35]
Round 7[]
15–18 March 2021
Scorecard |
v
|
Queensland | |
7/219 (76 overs)
Marcus Harris 113* (230) Jack Wildermuth 2/41 (10 overs) |
||
- Queensland won the toss and elected to field.
- No play was possible on days 3 and 4 due to rain.
20–23 March 2021
Scorecard |
Tasmania
|
v
|
|
333 (107.1 overs)
Tim Paine 87 (159) Harry Conway 3/80 (22.1 overs) |
32 (19.3 overs)
Peter Nevill 10* (30) Jackson Bird 7/18 (10 overs) | |
191 (56.2 overs)
Tim Paine 40* (80) Nathan Lyon 4/48 (17 overs) |
194 (64.3 overs)
Trent Copeland 58 (60) Peter Siddle 3/31 (15 overs) |
- New South Wales won the toss and elected to field.
23–26 March 2021
Scorecard |
Queensland
|
v
|
South Australia |
- No toss.
- No play was possible on day 1 due to rain.
- No play was possible on days 2, 3 and 4 due to a wet outfield.
25–28 March 2021
Scorecard |
v
|
||
9/391d (119 overs)
Josh Inglis 115 (159) Will Sutherland 4/81 (26 overs) |
207 (74.2 overs)
Travis Dean 38 (82) Matthew Kelly 4/43 (19 overs) | |
206 (64.3 overs)
Matthew Short 37 (56) Joel Paris 5/33 (18 overs) |
- Victoria won the toss and elected to field.
- Joel Paris (Western Australia) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket.[36]
Round 8[]
3–6 April 2021
Scorecard |
South Australia
|
v
|
|
365 (112.3 overs)
Sam Harper 106* (167) Daniel Worrall 3/86 (25 overs) | ||
- South Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
- Todd Murphy, James Seymour (Victoria) and Samuel Kerber (South Australia) all made their first-class debuts.
3–6 April 2021
Scorecard |
v
|
Queensland | |
433 (138.2 overs)
Marnus Labuschagne 112 (212) Nathan Lyon 6/128 (20 overs) | ||
5/145 (56.2 overs)
Matthew Gilkes 66 (135) Mitchell Swepson 4/60 (25 overs) |
- Queensland won the toss and elected to field.
- Lachlan Hearne (New South Wales) made his first-class debut.
3–6 April 2021
Scorecard |
Tasmania
|
v
|
|
6/184d (34.4 overs)
Jordan Silk 46 (72) Cameron Gannon 3/66 (12 overs) |
304 (81.3 overs)
Josh Inglis 54 (38) Sam Rainbird 4/67 (16.3 overs) |
- Western Australia won the toss and elected to field.
- Tim Ward (Tasmania) made his first-class debut.
Final[]
15–19 April 2021
Scorecard |
v
|
Queensland (H) | |
389 (149.3 overs)
Marnus Labuschagne 192 (353) Sean Abbott 4/71 (28.3 overs) | ||
- New South Wales won the toss and elected to bat.
References[]
- ^ "All You Need To Know for the Sheffield Shield". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ^ "All the Australian state squads for the 2020-21 season". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ "State squads: All the ins and outs for the 2020-21 season". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ "Sheffield Shield returns to Kookaburra ball throughout". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "No Dukes, Cricket Australia to use Kookaburra in first-class cricket from 2020-21 season". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "NSW Blues' Sheffield Shield drought ends in bizarre fashion as coronavirus wipes out final". Fox Sports. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ^ "New South Wales named Sheffield Shield winners as final cancelled". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ^ "Sheffield Shield to start next month with four rounds in Adelaide hub". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Australia to start domestic season mid-October in Adelaide bubble". Cricket365. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Sheffield Shield season to begin in Adelaide". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Victoria to play just two Shield games in Adelaide; Handscomb flags pacers' concerns". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Nervous moments as Vic pair rewrite records". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ^ "Marcus Harris and Will Pucovski set new Sheffield Shield record with 486-run stand". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ^ "CA confirms latest ever finish to domestic summer". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ^ "Latest Australian domestic season to end on April 30, Sheffield Shield trimmed by one round". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ^ "Restructured Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup to forge ahead despite Australian state border uncertainty". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Schedule announced for reduced Shield, one-day competitions". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Mitchell Swepson nabs three as Queensland secure Sheffield Shield title with innings victory". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ "Marsh Sheffield Shield 2020/21". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ Cameron, Louis. "History-making haul vindicates faith in Pope". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ "Sheffield Shield: Western Australia's Josh Inglis, Ashton Agar notch twin tons two balls apart". The West Australia. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Michael Neser and Ashton Agar achieve rare double in the space of an hour". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Peaceful park prepares to host Test stars". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ "Queensland hunt innings victory after Michael Neser's maiden hundred". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Victoria quarantine forces Shield fixture rejig". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Boom batsman Cameron Green was out cheaply as stalwart Shaun Marsh went big again for Western Australia". News.com.au. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ Jackson, Andrew (1 November 2020). "Pucovski and Harris make history with incredible 486-run Shield partnership". Fox Sports. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ^ "New South Wales skittled for 64, third lowest Shield score, as Peter Siddle and Jackson Bird revel". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
- ^ "Abbott ton complicates selection debate". 7 News. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ "Mitchell Swepson stars again after Matt Renshaw breaks century drought". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ "One-Test batsman and South Australia great Callum Ferguson retires from FC cricket". Nine Network. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ "Jake Fraser-McGurk helps Victoria survive Nathan Lyon threat to secure victory". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ "Caleb Jewell shines for Tasmania with a maiden Shield century against Queensland". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Sheffield Shield: South Australia captain Travis Head reaches double century early on day two at WACA Ground". The West Australian. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ "Green sets more records in march towards superstardom". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "Lance Morris rattles Victoria after Joel Paris' maiden century". Eagles Vine. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
External links[]
Categories:
- 2020–21 Australian cricket season
- Domestic cricket competitions in 2020–21
- Sheffield Shield seasons
- Cricket events curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic