Pink balls return in round five of the Sheffield Shield with Queensland to host Victoria and South Australia to face off with WA under lights at the Gabba and Adelaide Oval respectively.
Those matches both kick off at 3pm AEDT on Saturday with NSW to host Tasmania in the remaining round five fixture, which will be a red-ball affair as Cricket Central in western Sydney beginning at 10.30am.
While each team’s Test squad members have departed for higher duties after a star-studded round four, there’s still plenty of big names in action this weekend with Victorian Matt Short and Tasmania’s Mitch Owen among those in line to play their first Shield matches of the season.
NSW v Tasmania, Cricket Central, November 22-25
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NSW squad: Jack Edwards (c), Ollie Davies, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Ryan Hicks, Sam Konstas, Kurtis Patterson, Ross Pawson, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Lachlan Shaw, Charlie Stobo
Ins: Liam Hatcher, Ryan Hicks, Ross Pawson, Tanveer Sangha, Lachlan Shaw, Charlie Stobo. Outs: Steve Smith, Sean Abbott, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Will Salzmann, Mitchell Starc
Jack Edwards is set to be back as captain in round five after Steve Smith led NSW against Victoria last week in preparation for the Ashes opener in Perth, where he is also standing in for Test skipper Pat Cummins as he recovers from back stress.
The Blues will field a completely different bowling attack in round five with Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon in the Test side, while Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott were also in that Australian squad but suffered hamstring injuries in their last match.
While Hazlewood and Abbott were set to be unavailable regardless, rising star Will Salzmann’s own hamstring injury is a huge blow after a strong start to the season, with Ryan Hicks a chance to retain his spot as opener after being subbed in during the last match. Salzmann had surgery last Friday and looks set for an extended stint on the sidelines.
Of the six added to the squad, only Tanveer Sangha has international experience.
Tasmania squad: Jordan Silk (c), Jackson Bird, Gabe Bell, Nikhil Chaudhary, Jake Doran, Brad Hope, Caleb Jewell, Matt Kuhnemann, Riley Meredith, Aidan O’Connor, Mitch Owen, Charlie Wakim, Tim Ward
Ins: Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Charlie Wakim. Outs: Kieran Elliott, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
Allrounder Mitch Owen returns from international white-ball duties and could be a straight swap for Test squad member Beau Webster at No.6. Likewise, with Charlie Wakim for Aussie debutant Jake Weatherald at the top of the order. Wakim has hit three centuries for club side Lindisfarne already this season.
Riley Meredith is also in line to return after being rested during the previous round.
Queensland v Victoria, The Gabba (D/N), November 22-25
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Queensland squad: Mitchell Swepson (c), Xavier Bartlett, Hugo Burdon, Jack Clayton, Benji Floros, Sam Geyer, Lachlan Hearne, Angus Lovell, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Gurinder Sandhu, Tom Straker, Hugh Weibgen
Ins: Hugo Burdon, Sam Geyer, Tom Straker. Outs: Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Tom Whitney
Leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson will take the reins as captain with regular skipper Marnus Labuschagne recalled to the Test side for the first Ashes Test in Perth. Opener Usman Khawaja is also unavailable again due to international commitments while veteran paceman Michael Neser received a late call up to the Aussie squad following hamstring injuries to Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott.
Fellow Bulls opener Matthew Renshaw has been cleared to play after batting through a knee complaint last week, scoring a century and 51 in their loss to WA. Batter Hugo Burdon comes into the squad for the first time this summer after scoring two centuries in the Second XI, while 22-year-old allrounder Sam Geyer has earned his maiden call up for the Bulls.
Pace bowler Tom Straker also comes into the squad with Neser absent on national duties and Tom Whitney dropping out.
Victoria squad: Will Sutherland (c), Harry Dixon, Sam Elliott, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Oliver Peake, Mitch Perry, Matt Short
Ins: Mitch Perry, Matt Short. Outs: Scott Boland, Blake Macdonald
Scott Boland drops out of the Victorian squad for Ashes duties, with in-form quick Mitch Perry his likely replacement after he was rested from their thumping win over a star-studded NSW outfit last week. Matt Short is in line to play his first Shield match of the season, while batter Blake Macdonald has made way.
“Having someone of Matt’s calibre and international experience brings confidence and power to our middle order,” Victoria coach Chris Rogers said.
Will Sutherland’s Victoria are flying this season with four wins from four games to sit 14 points clear at the top of the standings. The last time Victoria won their opening four games (in 2016-17), they went on to win the Sheffield Shield title.
South Australia v Western Australia, Adelaide Oval (D/N), November 22-25
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South Australia squad: Nathan McSweeney (c), Jordan Buckingham, Henry Hunt, Hanno Jacobs, Jake Lehmann, Ben Manenti, Conor McInerney, Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Henry Thornton
Ins: Hanno Jacobs, Conor McInerney, Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope. Outs: Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Travis Head, Nathan McAndrew (managed)
The reigning champions lose stars Travis Head and Alex Carey as well as Test debutant Brendan Doggett for their clash with WA, while paceman Nathan McAndrew has been managed after sending down more than 90 overs in the past three games.
Back-up gloveman Harry Nielsen is an automatic inclusion for Carey, while Conor McInerney could slot back in at the top of the order, allowing skipper Nathan McSweeney to return to his favoured No.3 position after he opened the batting in the previous round.
Paceman Jordan Buckingham will also be back in the mix with Doggett and McAndrew missing, as is leg-spinner Lloyd Pope. Allrounder Hanno Jacobs is also a chance to play his second game of the Shield season.
Western Australia squad: Sam Whiteman (c), Cameron Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Joel Curtis, Sam Fanning, Albert Esterhuysen, Cameron Gannon, Jayden Goodwin, Aaron Hardie, Liam Haskett, Corey Rocchiccioli
Ins: Albert Esterhuysen, Sam Fanning, Jayden Goodwin. Outs: Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Matt Kelly
Joel Curtis will be expected to slot straight back into the WA side with Josh Inglis now on Test squad duties. Australia’s white-ball gloveman missed selection for the first Test but will play for a Cricket Australia XI against England Lions in a four-day match in Perth beginning on Friday. This season’s leading wicket-taker Matt Kelly has been rested, opening the door for Albert Esterhuysen to return to the squad, while fellow youngsters Sam Fanning and Jayden Goodwin are also headed to the Adelaide Oval.
Cameron Green’s absence means Hilton Cartwright can return to No.4, with a vacancy up for grabs at first-drop. Left-hander Goodwin batted at No.3 in the first two games of the Shield season but has missed the past two games after Green returned to the side.
Sheffield Shield 2025-26 standings
Team
Matches played
M
Wins
W
Losses
L
Drawn
D
No results
N/R
Deductions
Ded.
Batting Bonus
Bat
Bowling Bonus
Bowl
Total points
PTS
1
VIC
4
4
0
0
0
0
4.14
3.6
31.74
2
QLD
4
1
1
2
0
0
6.68
2.9
17.58
3
WA
4
1
2
1
0
0
1.61
3.7
12.31
4
NSW
4
1
2
1
0
0
1.55
3.7
12.25
5
SA
4
1
2
1
0
0
1.3
3.6
11.9
6
TAS
4
1
2
1
0
2
1.72
3.2
9.92
Legend
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
D: Drawn
N/R: No results
Ded.: Deductions
Bat: Batting Bonus
Bowl: Bowling Bonus
PTS: Total points
