Liam O’Loughlin in NineSport.com, 25 March 2025, …with a title that is far too long
It often flies under the radar, but this week’s Sheffield Shield final could be one for the ages and have ramifications for a number of players. While all the talk has been around Usman Khawaja‘s hamstring injury – or lack thereof, depending on who you ask – plenty of other big names will be in action.
South Australia have been the dominant team all season in the Australian first-class competition and boast a well-balanced squad that has proved tough to beat.
Alex Carey has been the form player of the competition when available, with an average in the 90s and three centuries in just four matches to his name.
Alex Carey has been in red-hot form in Sheffield Shield. Getty
From a bowling perspective, the raw pace of Henry Thornton is always a handful for opposition batters, while the experienced Nathan McAndrew has been brilliant, taking 35 wickets at an average of less than 20 across seven Shield games.
But perhaps the story that has flown under the radar the most this season for South Australia has been the re-emergence of Jason Sangha since his move away from NSW.
After overcoming a biceps injury, the elegant right-hander has returned to the form that had many comparing him to Ricky Ponting when he burst onto the scene as a teenager.
This season, Sangha has belted 573 runs in five games, including two tons, while also performing incredibly well for the Sydney Thunder when he was fit and firing.
Jason Sangha celebrates a half-century for South Australia. Getty
It’s been some turnaround for the 25-year-old, who moved away from the Blues and his once-promising career appeared to be hurtling towards oblivion.
Now, he has placed himself firmly back in the minds of national selectors and another strong performance in the biggest Shield game of the year won’t hurt his chances.
“It’s been a great move so far … it’s something that I felt like I needed at this stage of my career,” Sangha told media the week of the final.
“My career was stalling at NSW, I wasn’t making the side and probably wasn’t going to get another opportunity to play there. I just felt like the way South Australia had been developing over the past couple of years … they were progressing to something special.
“It was a bit more of a fresh start to come here and start with more of a blank canvas and go about the way I wanted to play my cricket.
“The coaching staff here have been excellent and they’ve allowed me to play the game I want to play and take the game on. There was no real pressure – everyone just wanted me to do well – and I really feel like I’ve enjoyed my cricket.
“The beauty of Australian sport is whenever there’s a teenage sensation, we love to get around them. If you look at someone like Sam Konstas at the moment, I had a similar sort of expectation when I was quite young and I probably didn’t deal with it overly well.
Jason Sangha faced similar pressure to Australia’s new golden child. Getty
“People said a lot of negative things about me. I went the other way and put too much on my shoulders … I forgot the reason why I play cricket.
“To have the team success we’ve had this year has been a bonus, on top of that little bit of personal success as well. To come here and win a title in the one-day comp and contest for a final in the Shield as well is pretty rare.”
Sangha will be a crucial part of South Australia’s hopes, but it won’t be an easy task.
Standing in the way of a first Shield title in nearly 30 years for the Redbacks will be a Queensland side including top-line Test batters in Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne.
Khawaja missed the side’s final regular season game, but has been confirmed to return at the top of the order in a major boost for the Bulls.
Labuschagne will lead the side and after a lean trot in the Test arena, will be desperate to make a mark and help his state towards their 10th championship.
Marnus Labuschagne has found himself under growing pressure. Getty
Queensland have plenty of other older heads in their line-up as well with Matt Renshaw, Michael Neser and Mitchell Swepson all having international experience.
Ben McDermott, Jimmy Peirson and Mark Steketee are also veteran campaigners on the domestic scene and know how to win games of cricket at this level.
The ladder-leaders will undoubtedly start as favourites – as they should – but there’s reason to believe the experience of Queensland will hold them in good stead in the final.
The highly-anticipated four-day clash between South Australia and Queensland will kick off on Wednesday morning at Karen Rolton Oval, after a disappointing call made to move the game away from Adelaide Oval due to AFL scheduling.
