Victoria‘s battle of spinners for Shield final
HEARTACHE looms for a pair of integral Victorian cricketers as Test squad members Peter Handscomb and Todd Murphy return to the fold for the Sheffield Shield final.
The Vics stormed to a seven-wicket victory and their fifth win on the trot against Western Australia in Perth last week, but are set to make at least two changes to their side as they look to repeat the dose against the same team in the final, which begins at the WACA on Thursday.
Jon Holland, 35, could make way for Murphy after the veteran left-arm finger spinner claimed 3-15 off 10 overs in a spell that helped reduce the Warriors to just 122 in their first innings. Holland began the domestic season as Victoria’s first-choice spinner and has claimed 12 wickets in seven matches at 28.75, but Murphy’s debut Test series suggests he will hold his spot.
Top-order batters Travis Dean (236 at 16.85 this season) and Ashley Chandrasinghe (271 at 20.84) are most at risk of losing their place in the team to returning captain Handscomb, with both repeatedly failing to fire since the Shield resumed last month.
WA could spring up to three changes of its own as it looks to secure back-to-back Shield titles, with Joel Paris (back), Matt Kelly (managed) and Lance Morris (international duties) tipped to return.
Victorian coach Chris Rogers said his side would go into the game with confidence after last week’s win. “You can’t change too much in the space of a week … you might get a little bit of information from the opposition, but I’d much rather play on the back of a win at the WACA than a loss,” he said.
“We know we’re capable of winning at the WACA, and that’s a hurdle in itself, so we’re excited now that we have that win under our belts.”
Victoria encountered the same late-season schedule last year with a final-round game at the WACA before travelling back for the final, and Rogers said the difference in result in the penultimate match would give the visitors an edge.
Western Australia claimed the 2021-22 Shield title with a draw.