Skipper Travis Head says South Australia has fallen off Sheffield Shield title pace, but won’t accept finishing bottom
South Australia’s hopes of a Sheffield Shield final berth were ended on Monday in a 182-run loss to Victoria. But disappointed captain Travis Head says the team still has plenty to play for in its remaining match.
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Travis Head concedes South Australia has fallen off the pace for a long-awaited Sheffield Shield title that appeared a formality after reaching successive finals across 2015-17.
Victoria kept its title defence intact with a 182-run win on Monday in Adelaide that ended the Redbacks’ hope of reaching the Shield decider against New South Wales.
“It’s disappointing from where we are at in the season, what it meant, to not play our best four days and string anything together,” Head told The Advertiser.
“You work so hard to play in a final and at the minute we are a long way off.
“That is the disappointing part, we were very close a couple of years ago, had our opportunities.
“We need to do a lot of work to get back to that stage.”
Chasing 399 to win, Redbacks skipper Head top scored with 60 while keeper-batsman Harry Nielsen held up Victoria with 40 as SA folded for 216.
Rookie speedster and man-of-the-match Will Sutherland took a career best 6/67.
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The Redbacks could finish fourth by defeating Queensland at Karen Rolton Oval starting Tuesday week, or collect an eighth wooden spoon in 11 seasons with defeat.
“We have one game to improve and finish the season on a high,” Head said.
“It is disappointing, I want results, everyone wants success and is desperate for us to do well.
“The effort we put in, it is always hard to finish with no result.”
There has been pride at Adelaide Oval in the elevation of Head to Test vice-captain and Alex Carey as Aaron Finch’s Australian limited overs lieutenant.
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Leg-spinner Adam Zampa and seamer Kane Richardson have thrived with the white ball for Australia.
Redbacks veteran Tom Cooper is second on the Shield run tally with 765 at 54 this season. Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year Wes Agar and Chadd Sayers are among the competition’s top-five wicket-takers with 33 and 31, respectively, but have two wins to show for their efforts.
Head says his side doesn’t deserve a third-straight Shield bottom-placing in a campaign where little has separated second from last.
“There is concern because we want to do well, have had five guys represent Australia in the last 18 months,” Head said.
“We win this game and are back in the hunt for a Shield final.
“It is a small competition, only six teams.
“I have had years where we have gone from second to last in one round.
“I don’t think that finishing last is a true reflection of where we are at.”
Head rates developing a squad capable of lifting South Australia’s next Shield title equally important to cementing his Test spot.
It’s an indication of Head’s passion as captain and care for SA’s cricket system.
“I have a massive role in developing our players, that is my motivation, what is driving me to find a way to have the next Sheffield Shield winning team for South Australia,” he said.
“We have shown glimpses.
“We need a lot more output from our senior players.
“I needed to stand up, lead from the front and get big runs.”