South Australia securing their first-ever back-to-back Sheffield Shield titles was not only a historic moment in the state’s cricketing history, but also the perfect finale to an extraordinary Summer of Cricket.
We have already celebrated an incredible international season at Adelaide Oval, highlighted by a record-breaking Ashes Test Match, along with thrilling Men’s ODI and Women’s T20 fixtures against India. Now, as the season draws to a close, we turn our attention to the unforgettable domestic summer that was.
Across the WNCL, One Day Cup, and, of course, the title‑winning Sheffield Shield campaign, the season delivered unbelievable moments and non‑stop, action‑packed cricket.
Relive the summer that was below!
Capped off by securing a consecutive Sheffield Shield, this summer has seen a lot of incredible individual performances, team efforts, and the emergence of some exciting young talent in both our Male and Female fixtures.
Falling just short of finals qualification at the final hurdle, the WNCL season still delivered plenty of encouragement for South Australia. An outstanding run of six consecutive victories gave the side a genuine late push and highlighted the team’s resilience and growth over the campaign.
The season was also marked by several significant individual milestones. Amanda-Jade Wellington became the WNCL’s all-time leading wicket-taker while also celebrating her 100th WNCL appearance for South Australia. Veteran batter Bridget Patterson added another accolade to her career, becoming the most capped South Australian player in the competition’s history.
Captain Jemma Barsby led from the front with a strong all-round season, taking 17 wickets and scoring 328 runs at an average of 41. Courtney Webb once again topped the state’s run-scoring charts, amassing 465 runs at 46.50, including one century and five half-centuries. For the fourth consecutive season, Wellington finished as South Australia’s leading wicket-taker, claiming 20 wickets at an average of 26.30. Youngster Eleanor Larosa also impressed, playing a key role in guiding the side through several tense run chases.
Coming into the One Day Cup as defending champions, things didn’t quite fall South Australia’s way, but there were still plenty of positives to take from the campaign.
Wins over Queensland and Victoria on home soil highlighted the team’s potential, even if they weren’t enough to keep the title defence alive. Those performances offered a glimpse of what the side can produce at its best.
Mackenzie Harvey continued his strong form, being named South Australia’s One Day Cup Player of the Year after scoring 322 runs at an average of 53.7. Nathan McAndrew also impressed with the ball, leading the wicket-taking tally with 10 wickets from four matches at an average of 14.30.
History was made two weeks ago when the South Australian Men secured back‑to‑back Sheffield Shield titles for the first time in the state’s history.
After a challenging start to the season, Nathan McSweeney’s side went on a remarkable run, remaining unbeaten from late October through to the March final. That streak culminated in a victory over Victoria at Junction Oval, as South Australia once again lifted the Shield.
Success was built on contributions from across the entire squad. That depth proved crucial throughout the campaign, particularly as injuries forced the side to draw heavily on its bench. Rather than being a weakness, it became a defining strength, enabling South Australia to win from almost any position. The Final itself was a perfect illustration of the resilience that has become synonymous with this team, as they fought back from a significant deficit to ultimately claim victory.
Opener Henry Hunt led the way with the bat, topping the run‑scoring charts for the side with 673 runs at an average of 35.42. With the ball, Nathan McAndrew once again led the attack, finishing the season with 38 wickets at 23.24 to top the wicket tally.
Liam Scott continued his impressive rise as a cornerstone of the team. The all‑rounder amassed 547 runs at 39.07 and claimed 28 wickets at 23.25, performances that earned him both Cricket Australia’s Sheffield Shield Player of the Year award and SACA’s Sheffield Shield MVP honours.
We would like to thank everyone who helped make this Summer of Cricket truly unforgettable, and we can’t wait to do it all again next season.