Sheffield Shield final: All you need to know

Western Australia will be out to claim their first Sheffield Shield title this millennium when they host Victoria in the final of Australia's most prestigious domestic cricket competition at the WACA this week.

It will be the first time WA have hosted the final since 1997-98 and they will be chasing their first title since 1998-99 when a line-up boasting Adam Gilchrist, Michael Hussey, Simon Katich, Damien Martyn, Tom Moody and Brendon Julian lifted the Shield.

Victoria will be out to add another Sheffield Shield to their 32 titles having last tasted success in 2018-19 when they beat NSW by 177 runs at the Junction Oval.

When is it?

The five-day final gets underway on Thursday March 31 from 10am AWST (1pm AEDT). Unless there is a result earlier, the match will finish on Monday April 4.

The session times are: Morning 10am-12noon (AWST), afternoon 12.40pm-2.40pm, evening 3pm-5pm.

Where is it?

The WACA Ground, Perth. Western Australia earned hosting rights by finishing top of the Marsh Sheffield Shield table after demolishing Victoria by an innings and 51 runs at the same venue last week.

The WACA last hosted the show piece in March 1998 when WA defeated Tasmania by seven wickets.

Victoria secured their place in the decider with a thrilling two-wicket win against Tasmania in the penultimate game of the season but lost the opportunity to host when they were beaten by WA.

The match is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased here and cost $10 for an adult, $5 concession with kids free.

What happens if it's a draw?

If the match ends in a draw after five days, then the title will go to the state who secures the most bonus points after the first innings.

Teams score 0.01 of a bonus point for every run over 200 they score during the first 100 overs of their first innings (for example: 350 runs after 100 overs gets you 1.5 bonus points) and 0.1 of a bonus point for every wicket they take during their opponent's first innings (for example: 10 wickets in the first 100 overs equals 1 bonus point).

How can I watch?

The match will be broadcast on Fox Cricket and Kayo, as well as live streamed on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app each day.  

Kayo offers a 14-day free trial for new subscribers, and you can sign up for that here.

Who is playing?

Despite missing all their Australian stars due to the Test tour of Pakistan, WA have finished the season strongly, dominating a rain-affected draw with NSW at Bankstown in their penultimate game before thrashing Victoria at home.

WA will have largely the same squad to pick from as last game with Mitch Marsh, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green and Ashton Agar staying on for the white-ball leg of the Australian tour.

Pace ace Jhye Richardson is also out of action until the end of April with a moderate grade left hamstring tendon strain, with the 25-year-old quick looking to return to action for Australia's tour of Sri Lanka in June, if selected.

Victoria suffered several key outs before leaving for Perth on Tuesday with their most experienced bowler in James Pattinson suffering a calf injury and Marcus Harris testing positive for COVID-19. However, they are set to be boosted by the return quick Scott Boland for the decider after he returned following Australia’s 1-0 Test series win against Pakistan.

The return of Will Pucovski against WA last week strengthens Victoria’s top order in Harris’ absences and he will partner Travis Dean, who boasts the highest average of all Shield openers this season.

The Vics also have two of the top six run scorers in the competition this season in skipper Peter Handscomb (617 runs at 47) and Nic Maddinson (525 runs at 58).

Western Australia has the fourth highest run scorer of the season in Hilton Cartwright (548 runs at 45) who is coming of a superb century last week against Victoria in a match where only two batters passed 50.

Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe has also had a fine season with 478 runs at 43, while veteran Shaun Marsh is coming off a half century in the penultimate fixture against NSW.

The hosts still boast a formidable pace attack despite missing several players with young allrounder Aaron Hardie, Matthew Kelly, Lance Morris and Joel Paris, who claimed his 100th first-class wicket against Victoria last week, with his average of 21.92 the best of any current or former WA bowler with at least 100 Sheffield Shield scalps.

Likely XIs

WA: Cameron Bancroft, Sam Whiteman, Shaun Marsh (c), Hilton Cartwright, Teague Wyllie, Josh Philippe (wk), Aaron Hardie, Joel Paris, Matthew Kelly, Corey Rocchiccioli, Lance Morris

Victoria: Will Pucovski, Travis Dean, Peter Handscomb (c), Nic Maddinson, Matt Short, Jono Merlo, Sam Harper (wk), Will Sutherland, Scott Boland, Mitch Perry, Jon Holland

Do these sides have history?

Yes. Top-ranked Victoria drew with WA in the 2014-15 final in Hobart to deny Western Australia a drought-breaking Shield title. Both state's current coaches, Adam Voges (WA) and Chris Rogers (Victoria) were playing and scored centuries.

Marcus Harris was playing for WA then and scored 81 and 158 not out but it proved in vain as the Vics batted out a draw to secure the title on the fifth day. Current players who also featured in that match were Boland, James Pattinson, Peter Handscomb, Marsh, Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman.

The last time WA secured a title against Victoria was in the 1986-87 season – the first title of their three-peat – scoring 654 in their first innings as the match ended in a draw.

NSW have won the most Sheffield Shield titles with 47, followed by Victoria with 32, WA (15), South Australia (13), Queensland (9) and Tasmania (3).

The squads

WA: Shaun Marsh (c), Cam Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright, Aaron Hardie, Sam Fanning, Cam Gannon, Matty Kelly, David Moody, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, Josh Philippe, Corey Rocchiccioli, D'Arcy Short, Sam Whiteman, Teague Wyllie

Victoria: Peter Handscomb (c), Scott Boland, Travis Dean, Sam Harper, Jon Holland, Nic Maddinson, Jono Merlo, Fergus O'Neill, Mitch Perry, Will Pucovski, James Seymour, Matt Short, Will Sutherland

The Marsh Sheffield Shield final will be broadcast live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports, as well as streamed free on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app