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The Ashes 2025: Performance Review of Australian players in the Sheffield Shield

Shreyasi

Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc shine in Sheffield Shield [Source: X/@Smithian_here, @HardCricketpix]Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc shine in Sheffield Shield [Source: X/@Smithian_here, @HardCricketpix]

As the Ashes approach in a week, the ongoing Sheffield Shield fixtures have garnered significant attention, with several Australian players participating in the same to prepare for the upcoming prestigious series.

Pat Cummins is confirmed to miss at least the first Test following his injury. However, his fellow team members, including the stopgap captain Steve Smith, are enjoying a good workout.

Stand-in captain shines in Sheffield Shield

Smith scored twin fifties in the Victoria vs New South Wales games at the Sydney Cricket Ground and took a blinder at slip off Nathan Lyon. 

It was a 300-run loss for Smith’s side as most of the New South Wales batters had a terrible match. They were bundled out for 128 and 125 respectively, and almost half of the runs in both innings (57 and 56 not out) were scored by Steve Smith himself, who looked in perfect touch.

Starc, Boland ignite hope, Abbott out of Ashes after 5-wicket haul

Even the New South Wales bowlers had an underwhelming outing. All four bowlers who played for NSW were part of the initial Ashes squad. But Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott suffered injury scares during the match. Subsequent scans revealed Hazlewood to be pass fit, but Abbott was ruled out of the opening Ashes Test at Perth.

Interestingly, Abbott picked up 5 wickets in the match, including 4/18 in the second innings, in contrast to Hazlewood, who had just one wicket in the game. The other two Aussie greats, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, both showed some form with 4-wicket hauls during Victoria’s first innings.

Peter Handscomb scored a century for Victoria but is currently not in contention for a middle-order spot. Scott Boland, Victoria's only Test squad member, took 3 wickets in 25 overs across two innings.

Doggett eyeing Test debut as Webster looks to cement his place in Ashes XI

Brendan Doggett {Source: X/@cricketcomau]Brendan Doggett {Source: X/@cricketcomau]

The other match between Tasmania and South Australia saw a host of Australian Test team members fine-tune their skills. There was Jack Weatherald, who got his first Test call-up. 

Eyes were on Weatherfield’s potential fellow openers, Travis Head, wicketkeeper Alex Carey, all-rounder Beau Webster, as well as the fast bowler Brendan Doggett. The match was a close-fought contest, with South Australia ultimately emerging victorious by 3 wickets. 

Both Doggett and Webster made significant impacts with the ball. Each claimed five wickets apiece in the respective first innings of Tasmania and South Australia. The 32-year-old Doggett is yet to make his Test debut, but with Cummins and Abbott sidelined currently, Doggett has strengthened his case for selection at some point during the Ashes, especially after showcasing his bowling prowess in the Sheffield match.

Webster picked up 3 more wickets in the second innings and finished with 8 wickets in the match despite being part of the losing Tasmania side. He will hope to keep his all-round spot in the first Ashes Test at Perth.

Alex Carey notched up a fifty for South Australia in the first innings, whereas Travis Head failed in both. Jack Weatherald could not capitalise on good starts but showed promise with scores of 23 and 30 in his two innings. 

Green to be in focus following his all-around performance

The last match of this Sheffield Shield round between Queensland and Western Australia gained significant attention due to the presence of Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green on the opposing teams. Labuschagne is representing Queensland, whereas Cameron Green is in the Western Australia squad. 

Cameron Green missed a century by only six runs in the first innings, but reassured the Australian management with his bowling in both innings. Labuschagne scored a fifty in the first innings but failed in the second. Even Green failed to replicate his batting success during the second innings, but his fitness and ability to bowl would surely add balance to the Australian Test line-up.

Meanwhile, Josh Inglish scored a crucial 28 as Western Australia recorded a thrilling 1-wicket victory over Queensland. His ability to handle pressure situations reinforced his value to the team as the backup wicketkeeper for the Australian side.

Conclusion

14 out of the 15-member Australian squad for the first Test have leveraged the Sheffield Shield well for the Ashes preparation, aiming to solidify their place in the playing eleven. With the Perth Test starting on November 21, it will be a happy headache for the team management to finalize the team.