South Australia’s cricket team, led by Nathan McSweeney, aims to achieve a historic double after winning their first one-day title in 13 years against Victoria. They aspire to capture the Sheffield Shield, a feat never accomplished by SA. Currently leading the four-day competition, they hold an 11-point advantage over NSW and are in position to host the final. McSweeney credits head coach Ryan Harris for instilling belief in the team, noting their recent resilience despite setbacks. With two games left, the players are motivated to build on their one-day success, hoping for a strong future beyond this season.
McSweeney guided SA to its first one-day title in 13 years with a decisive 64-run victory over Victoria at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night. Achieving the double of winning both a one-day title and the Shield in the same season has been accomplished 11 times, but never by SA.
Western Australia (five times), NSW (four times), and Victoria (twice) have managed to achieve the double. However, McSweeney recognizes that his adopted state, long seen as the underdogs of domestic cricket, may never have a better opportunity than now.
“It’s a bit of a relief,” McSweeney remarked after receiving the inaugural Dean Jones Trophy. “We will enjoy this moment, but there’s a larger goal ahead – there’s a Shield final to contest. Everyone loves to win. Experiencing this success hopefully gives us the boost we need – I doubt we’ll tire of it.”
SA hasn’t claimed a Shield win since 1995-96 but is currently leading the four-day competition, positioning itself well to host the final. With two matches left, each offering six points for a win, McSweeney’s squad has an 11-point lead over second-placed NSW. Furthermore, McSweeney believes that SA’s triumph in the 50-over format will positively influence their performance in the four-day games.
“It has certainly been a long time since we last held a title,” he reflected. “The players we have now have demonstrated over the past couple of years that we possess the capability to achieve it.
“Unfortunately, we’ve encountered a rough patch in a Shield game or had a tough hour in a one-day match, which has sidelined us from contention. We’re becoming more consistent, as indicated by our position in the Shield standings. So, we hope this marks the beginning of a strong era and is not just a one-time occurrence.”
“One thing Ryan Harris has instilled in us is belief,” he said. “This year, we’ve successfully defended scores of 160 twice in the one-day competition. Even after being bowled out for 90 in the latest Shield match, we still emerged victorious. We’re winning from scenarios where we shouldn’t be, and that’s a tremendous testament to Ryano and the coaching staff.”