Shield final poised for historic first

Alice Springs or Wollongong could host the Sheffield Shield final for the first time after Cricket Australia confirmed the five possible venues for this year’s decider.

With only bottom-of-the-table Tasmania not in the hunt to finish on top of the Shield table and earn hosting rights for the final, CA confirmed Traegar Park in Alice Springs as Victoria’s preferred venue and Wollongong’s North Dalton Park as NSW’s pick should they finish top.

South Australia, who hosted last year's Shield final but lost to Victoria, will again play at Glenelg’s Gliderol Stadium should they finish top while Queensland have nominated Allan Border Field.

Western Australia’s regular home of the WACA Ground remains available to host the final.

The MCG, the SCG, the Adelaide Oval and the Gabba are all off limits for the final on March 26-30 due to the beginning of the Australian Football League season.

The Shield final looked set to be played in Alice Springs for the first time last season when the Bushrangers entered Round 8 with a big lead at the top of the table. But they were winless in their final three games of the regular season and South Australia's thumping win over Tasmania in the final round catapulted them into top spot.

The Vics will again take a big lead of around 11.5 points into the final three rounds this summer, but it looks set to be another tight finish with just 4.01 points separating Western Australia in fifth spot and NSW in second.

Below, we’ve previewed each match of the upcoming eighth round of Shield action. Each game begins at 10.30am local time on Saturday and will be live streamed on cricket.com.au.

Western Australia v Victoria, WACA (1.30pm AEDT)

Ladder-leaders Victoria head west to face fifth-placed Western Australia at the WACA Ground and look set to use their fourth wicketkeeper for the domestic summer (fifth if you include fill-in Aaron Finch), with uncapped Seb Gotch included in the squad.

Gotch’s call-up comes in the absence of Bushrangers skipper Matthew Wade and fellow Test squad member Peter Handscomb, while youngster Sam Harper is still hospitalised, recovering after copping a head knock during Victoria’s Shield win over South Australia.

Harper was accidentally struck by Redbacks batsman Jake Lehmann in the follow-through of a shot.

The 20-year-old's condition continues to be monitored but is improving, and he made an appearance to support Victoria in their Futures League clash in Glenelg this week. Harper is expected to be released from his Adelaide hospital later this week.

Western Australia’s Jason Behrendorff has been named to play his first domestic match in nearly three months, with the left-armer squeezing Australia T20 paceman Andrew Tye out of the Warriors squad.

Behrendorff hasn’t played for the Warriors since being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left fibula in November.

Despite Tye’s call-up to Australia’s T20 squad that lost their three-match series 2-1 to Sri Lanka, he couldn’t hold onto his spot ahead of fellow quicks Cameron Green, David Moody and Simon Mackin.

Victoria squad: Cameron White (c), Scott Boland, Dan Christian, Travis Dean, Aaron Finch, Seb Gotch, Marcus Harris, Jon Holland, James Pattinson, Rob Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Tremain.

WA squad: Adam Voges (c), Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Michael Klinger, Simon Mackin, David Moody, D’Arcy Short, Ashton Turner, Jonathan Wells.

South Australia v Queensland, Adelaide Oval (11.00pm AEDT)

South Australia (third) host Queensland (fourth) at the Adelaide Oval in a vital match, with opener Joe Burns to captain the Bulls for the first time.

Burns, the Shield’s current leading run-scorer, will take the reins as Queensland’s 52nd skipper in the wake of a finger injury suffered by record-breaking wicketkeeper Chris Hartley.

The veteran gloveman fractured the middle finger on his left hand while batting in a club match last Sunday and is expected to miss at least three weeks.

Hartley’s injury opens the door for Jimmy Peirson, who has impressed as the Brisbane Heat’s first-choice ‘keeper in the KFC Big Bash League over the past three seasons, to make his Sheffield Shield debut.

Swing bowler Daniel Worrall returns for the Redbacks, having been on the sidelines with a back injury since the second round of the competition. Allrounder Cameron Valente has been omitted.

SA squad: Travis Head (c), Alex Carey, Tom Cooper, Callum Ferguson, David Grant, Jake Lehmann, Sam Raphael, Kane Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Jake Weatherald, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa.

Queensland squad: Joe Burns (c), Luke Feldman, Jason Floros, Peter Forrest, Cameron Gannon, Peter George, Sam Heazlett, Marnus Labuschagne, James Peirson, Mark Steketee, Sam Truloff, Jack Wildermuth.

NSW v Tasmania, North Dalton Park, Wollongong (10.30am AEDT)

Former Test wicketkeeper Tim Paine has been recalled to Tasmania's Sheffield Shield side for the first time in almost a year, less than a week after conceding his playing days could be coming to an end.

Paine played just four Shield matches last season and has been restricted to Futures League and club cricket this summer, but in the wake of coach Dan Marsh's sacking, the 32-year-old has been named to return to first-class cricket.

Ben McDermott has also been included in the Tigers’ squad to face NSW in Wollongong, while out-of-form duo Jake Doran and Jordan Silk have been dropped along with leg-spinner Cameron Boyce.

Seamer Andrew Perrin has also been included, having missed Tasmania’s last match against WA after taking five wickets on debut against Queensland.

The Blues have named axed Test batsman Nic Maddinson to make his Shield return, after the left-hander spent some time away from the game.

NSW squad: Moises Henriques (c), Sean Abbott, Doug Bollinger, Harry Conway, Trent Copeland, Ed Cowan, Daniel Hughes, Nick Larkin, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Kurtis Patterson, Will Somerville. 

Tasmania squad: George Bailey (c), Alex Doolan, James Faulkner, Jake Hancock, Hamish Kingston, Ben McDermott, Simon Milenko, Tim Paine, Andrew Perrin, Sam Rainbird, Cameron Stevenson, Beau Webster