Ryan Harris predicts tough selection calls as SA zeroes in on first Sheffield Shield title in 29 years

SA coach Ryan Harris says there will be some heartbroken players – and “tough conversations’’ – as he finalises his team for next week’s Sheffield Shield final at Karen Rolton Oval.

South Australia coach Ryan Harris says there will be some selection heartbreak – and “tough conversations’’ – when he finalises his 11-man team that will next week attempt to snap a three-decade Sheffield Shield drought.

Harris, who has performed wonders in his first season as SACA men’s coach, on Friday confirmed that star paceman Brendan Doggett and rising all-rounder Liam Scott would come into the side that played out a draw against final opponent Queensland at Karen Rolton Oval during the week.

That means there will be at least two unlucky players facing the axe as SA chases its first Shield title since 1995-96, with Harris still to determine the balance of his squad as he weighs up whether to play two genuine spinners.

Popular leg-spinner Lloyd Pope and off-spinning all-rounder Ben Manenti both played against the Bulls and their prospects of playing in the final have been enhanced by the Shield-defining match being a five-day affair.

But Harris said SA could go in with three quicks, one medium-pace all-rounder in Scott and one primary spinner, with captain Nathan McSweeney able to provide some part-time spin.

South Australia coach Ryan Harris overlooking Karen Rolton Oval on Friday. Picture: Brenton Edwards

He said he didn’t envisage “too much different’’ from a batter-friendly Karen Rolton Oval pitch, which saw a whopping 1236 runs scored for the loss of only 22 wickets in four days in the last Shield match.

“We know what we’re going to get from the pitch, which is the advantage of us playing here (at home),’’ Harris said.

“Selection is going to be hard and we are still working out whether we are going to play the second spinner, which changes the make-up of the team.

“We usually go with two genuine fast bowlers, the all-rounder and two spinners or the three (quicks), an all-rounder and leave a spinner out.

“We are still working that out and are having continual discussions but it’s hard to make those decisions because everyone is bowling well.

“But as I’ve said all along this season, they are the discussions – as hard as they are – that you want to have because it means you’re playing pretty well, which obviously we have to make the Shield final.

“So we’ll work through that over the next few days but there are going to be some tough conversations come Tuesday or Wednesday morning.’’

Nathan McAndrew, Jordan Buckingham and Henry Thornton were SA’s three pacemen against Queensland last week.

South Australia’s Liam Scott celebrates a wicket in the Sheffield Shield against Victoria. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Adding to the intrigue for the final is that not only is it a five-day match but if there is no outright result, the victor will be determined by which team gets the most first innings bonus points.

“I’m trying to chase up some info on that, because of the bonus points system, do you bat and go big or bowl and make it a big one-day game, I’m still working that out,’’ Harris said.

“But we don’t want to overthink it. You can worry so much about the first innings and you might lose wickets trying to get those bonus points and all of a sudden it puts you under pressure for the rest of the game.

“So I’ll do some more research around that and speak to a couple of coaches who have done it (been involved in Shield finals) and see what their theories are.’’

SA is chasing a historic trophy double, having this season won its first One-Day Cup in 13 years.

It has never done the domestic double.

“If we do get over the line I’ll be so proud of these players because they have worked so hard to get to this position,’’ Harris said.

Originally published as Ryan Harris predicts tough selection calls as SA zeroes in on first Sheffield Shield title in 29 years