Shield Informed – Details, episodes & analysis

A relentless bowling performance has seen Western Australia defeat champions Queensland on their own deck and shoot to the top of the Shield standings, while Jhye Richardson has put himself firmly in the frame for the Brisbane Test.

Meanwhile in Dubai Australia has won the T20 World Cup for the first time, slaying New Zealand in the final off the back of maligned figures Mitch Marsh, Dave Warner and Justin Langer, against all expectations.

Meanwhile the squad for the pre-Ashes matches has been set, with Marcus Harris all but confirmed as Warner's opening partner to begin the summer. 

Victoria sealed a second win over New South Wales in as many weeks on Monday, shooting to the pointy end of the table which may have also rocketed Scott Boland into Test calculations.

With Australia scheduled to tour Pakistan for the first time since 1998, Cricket Unfiltered's Andrew Menczel joins the programme to ponder whether it will actually go ahead, reflect on the life of Keith Bradshaw, and assess what has been learned from Australia's World Cup campaign.

Finally, Dona Sirimanne picks her highlights of the WBBL at the half-way point. 

The final round of Shield fixtures saw WA crumble against a firing Tasmania, leaving Queensland to host New South Wales in the Shield final from next Thursday.

Those two sides will meet having played out a hard-fought yet rain-affected draw both will take plenty from, while Victoria and SA uncovered some players of promise as their campaigns wound down.

Also, with the County Championship just days away, Annie Chave from County Cricket Matters joins the show from the UK to preview the season. 

County Cricket Matters: https://www.countycricketmatters.com/

The sharp end of the season is finally here, with Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia all in realistic contention to win through to the final later this month.

The boys bid farewell to domestic stalwart Chadd Sayers who'll play his final match for South Australia this weekend,  and have a chuckle at how Peter Siddle has become the latest victim of Mark McGowan's reign of terror.

It's our Jackson Bird special! We pay homage to his heroics that have blown the Shield wide open, while also wondering whether New South Wales can get it together again with just one match remaining before the final.

We also call for Billy Stanlake's inclusion as Queensland get set to host South Australia at the Ian Healy Oval from Tuesday, while a quick eye is cast forward to the National Women's Cricket League final on Sunday.

It's crunch time in the Sheffield Shield as each state has two matches remaining to earn a place in the final. 

The boys do their best to review a soggy draw between Queensland and Victoria, while also looking ahead to Saturday's meeting between Tasmania and New South Wales.

Former Australia and Victoria leggy Bryce McGain also jumps on for a chat, discussing South Australia's rising spin twins, Chris Rogers' influence on Victoria and plenty more.

Finally, don't forget you can support the show at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shieldinformed

Round six of the Sheffield Shield saw New South Wales move atop the table as the beneficiaries of two South Australian declarations, chasing down 295 on the final day.

Brodie is back in the co-hosts seat to ponder whether the Redbacks were honourable, stupid or both, as well as reviewing the washout at the MCG and run feast at The Gabba.

We also take a look at Australia's foolish exit from the World Test Championship, while Don Bradman's 1934 Shield switch to South Australia gets recalled in History Lesson. 

 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shieldinformed

Willem is joined by Tom Penn from The Pinch Hitter to cast an eye towards this weekend's Shield action, starting with Victoria hosting Tasmania from Friday.

South Australia's dual Marsh Shield defeats come under the microscope, as does Mitch Swepson's future as he faces an extended stint on the sidelines. 

Tom also revives the History Lesson with an English twist as he longs for the Shield to produce the next Alan Mullally, while he also answers the age old question: when will we see more from Mason Crane?

Don't forget you can support the show at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shieldinformed...

...And check out Tom's work and subscribe to The Pinch Hitter at https://twitter.com/LePinchHitter.

In many ways, it was a weekend of Sheffield Shield action we've seen many times before: Heartbreak for the Redbacks, an attritional grind between Victoria and New South Wales, and Harry Conway doing something ludicrous.

Both draws are reviewed in full on this episode, as is the unfolding Women's National Cricket League.

You can now support the show at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shieldinformed. If you choose to, then much love to you!

Last week's return of the Sheffield Shield saw Victoria dismiss New South Wales inside three days, while Queensland overhauled a big Tasmanian total during the final session at Hobart.

Both of these results are reviewed in full, before the boys look towards this Thursday's matches from Blacktown and the WACA.

Brodie's Bake also somehow survives for a second week, and don't forget you can now support the show with your loose change at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shieldinformed.