A new Marsh Sheffield Shield campaign gets underway on 4 October, and for the first time in 29 years South Australia begin as defending champions. National selectors have already said that early Shield form will shape the Ashes squad. There is an opening position to nail down and ongoing uncertainty around Pat Cummins’ fitness, so the first four rounds carry extra weight.
New South Wales
Captain Jack Edwards
Coach Greg Shipperd
Squad Sean Abbott, Charlie Anderson (R), Pat Cummins (CA), Joel Davies, Oliver Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Matt Gilkes, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Josh Hazlewood (CA), Ryan Hicks (R), Riley Kingsell (R), Sam Konstas (CA), Nathan Lyon (CA), Nic Maddinson, Blake Nikitaras, Jack Nisbet, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, William Salzmann, Tanveer Sangha, Jake Scott (R), Lachlan Shaw, Steven Smith (CA), Mitchell Starc (CA), Charlie Stobo, Chris Tremain, Adam Zampa (CA)
CA = Cricket Australia contract | R = Rookie contract
In Charlie Stobo (from WA), Riley Kingsell, Jake Scott
Out Jackson Bird (to Tasmania), Chris Green, Ryan Hackney, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr (to Queensland)
Last season Fourth
How they shape up
NSW stayed in the hunt for the final until the last round but finished one victory short of the previous year. Jackson Bird’s move to Tasmania leaves a sizeable gap after his 34 wickets at 17.20. Charlie Stobo has been recruited to share the new ball, while Liam Hatcher, Jack Nisbet and Ryan Hadley must step up.
Kurtis Patterson’s revival was a rare batting highlight; Sam Konstas also impressed either side of his dramatic Test debut. Nobody else averaged more than 34, aside from Ben Dwarshuis in a solitary outing. Nic Maddinson’s return never really got going—17.80 with the bat—so the left-hander is under gentle pressure. Josh Philippe began brightly last season but tailed off; Ollie Davies, the only ever-present in 2024-25, likewise needs a bigger haul.
Player to watch
Jack Edwards is still only 25 yet now captains in both formats. Last summer he averaged 33.46 with the bat and took 29 wickets at 24.03—healthy figures for an all-rounder, though he knows the batting number has to edge towards 40 if international calls are to follow. His slip catching is already top-drawer.
Australia impact
Konstas is central to the early-season “bat-off” for the Test opening berth. Win that duel and NSW may lose him to national duty before Christmas; lose it and they keep a handy run-maker. Nathan Lyon, who will lead the side in the opening match, should be available for at least three fixtures before Ashes preparations intensify, then again in February given he is not in Australia’s T20 plans. Steven Smith’s exact schedule is unclear, but now he sits outside the white-ball squads he could feature quite a bit.
Cummins’ persistent back problem means it is unlikely he wi
