Victorian Bushrangers vs South Australian Redbacks
Junction Oval
March 26-30 (5 days)
Rain forecast (it’s Melbourne).
Well, it was the Redbacks and not QLD who clawed their way into second place to play off against the Vics in the Sheffield Shield Final at the Junction Oval starting Thursday. The 1977 Centenary Test was played at the MCG in mid-March but these days the famous cricket ground is reserved for football at this time of year.
SA are in good form having fought out a rain-interrupted draw against the Vics in the important final round to nudge out the Bulls. They are also the reigning title-holders so it shapes as an intriguing battle.
The selection dilemma for the Vics was between pace bowlers Sam Elliott and Mitch Perry: both warranted selection but with Boland a lock, Sutherland the skipper, O’Neill an experienced Australia A player and with Murphy the front-line spinner, one had to miss. Mitch Perry it was. It’s a cruel blow for the boy from Wangaratta in north-east Victoria. It shows the depth that the runner-up Shield ‘player of the season’ is omitted. I expect Dylan Brasher to play and Blake McDonald to join the unlucky Perry on the sidelines.
The visitors named a 14-man squad, adding fast bowler Wes Agar and the clean-hitting Jake Fraser-McGurk. Last season’s finals hero, Brendan Doggett, will miss with a hamstring injury. Leg-spinner Lloyd Pope will play after missing the historic win in last year’s final. The flame-haired Pope may well play a decisive part on the spinning deck expected.
Test stars have a mixed record in these domestic deciders (if they can be bothered playing at all). It’s the end of a long season. Alex Carey for SA and Scott Boland VIC, however, are always on. Amazingly Carey has played for SA or the BBL franchise whenever he was free from national duties this season. Either one could be the match-winner. The other watch is the young (and youngish) guns who can perform under pressure: Kellaway, Peake, Elliott, Hunt or maybe Scott, the 2025/26 Sheffield Shield Player of the season.
Both coaches are impressive – Ryan Harris has SA peaking at the right time, and Chris Rogers has steered the Vics to an incredible seven wins this season. Both sides are near full-strength apart from Head (SA) and Short (Vic).
It’s hard to split them but SA were competitive against Victoria at the same venue earlier this month. Their batting line-up looks marginally stronger and this could be the difference. I’m tipping SA and Alex Carey to be Man of the Match. This, of course, depends on Melbourne’s fickle weather. A washout will allow the Vics to automatically claim the title.
The mighty Redbacks will once again be ‘the pride of South Australia’ if they can claim back-to-back titles.
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Correction: Pope was not selected. Maneti? will be the main spinner with McSweeney as well.
Many feel Pope is needed if SA are to bowl the Vics out twice.
Play resumed on Day 2 after Session 2 and 3 yesterday were rained out
SA were 4/102 with McSweeney digging in on 40 and Lehmann making a good start on 10.
Its evenly poised.
Well Carey was close to being Player of the match
Not sure 7 catches and a match-winning ton was given due weight. But equally McAndrew was superb with vital runs and wickets.
Great game of cricket and now the SACA will be eyeing a three-peat!