2015–16 Sheffield Shield season
# 2015–16 Sheffield Shield season

The 2015–16 Sheffield Shield season was the 114th season of the Sheffield Shield, the domestic first-class cricket competition in Australia. The season began after the conclusion of the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup, and included a break halfway through to allow for the Big Bash League. Trials for day/night Tests with a pink ball continued, having been introduced during the previous season. All of the matches for rounds one and seven of the tournament were played as day/night games. Victoria won their second consecutive title, defeating South Australia by 7 wickets in the final at Gliderol Stadium. Travis Head was named player of the series for his 721 runs and 9 wickets during the season. Ben Dunk of Tasmania was the leading run-scorer, while Joe Mennie from South Australia took the most wickets.

## Points table

| Team | Pld | W | L | D | NR | BP | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| South Australia | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 19.63 | 49.63 |
| Victoria | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 17.13 | 49.13 |
| New South Wales | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 14.57 | 47.57 |
| Queensland | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 16.66 | 46.66 |
| Western Australia | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 17.00 | 44.00 |
| Tasmania | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 17.19 | 27.19 |

## Round-Robin stage

| Visitor team → | NSW | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Home team ↓ | NSW | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA |
| New South Wales | | NSW 7 wickets | NSW 5 wickets | Tasmania 223 runs | Victoria Forfeited | Match drawn |
| Queensland | NSW 3 wickets | | Queensland Inns & 14 runs | Queensland 7 wickets | Queensland 100 runs | WA Inns & 6 runs |
| South Australia | NSW 215 runs | Queensland 173 runs | | SA Inns & 78 runs | Victoria 218 runs | SA 1 wicket |
| Tasmania | NSW 7 wickets | Queensland 3 wickets | SA 302 runs | | Tasmania Inns & 136 runs | WA 162 runs |
| Victoria | Match drawn | Victoria 9 wickets | SA 8 wickets | Victoria 7 wickets | | Match drawn |
| Western Australia | Match drawn | WA 24 runs | SA 1 wicket | WA 9 wickets | Victoria 356 runs | |
| Home team won | Visitor team won |

* Note: Results listed are according to the home (horizontal) and visitor (vertical) teams.
* Note: Click on a result to see a summary of the match.

### Round 1

* 28 – 31 October (D/N) Scorecard
* New South Wales won by 215 runs Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Greg Davidson and Mick Martell Player of the match: Steve Smith (NSW)
* New South Wales won the toss and elected to bat.
* Bonus Points: South Australia 1.50, New South Wales 2.10
* 28 – 31 October (D/N) Scorecard
* Victoria won by 9 wickets Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Umpires: Phillip Gillespie and Geoff Joshua Player of the match: Travis Dean (Vic)
* Queensland won the toss and elected to bat.
* Travis Dean (Victoria) made his first-class debut.
* Travis Dean became the first player in Shield history to score two centuries on debut, and the first player in first-class cricket to score two unbeaten centuries on debut.
* Bonus Points: Victoria 1.70, Queensland 1.10
* 28 – 31 October (D/N) Scorecard
* Western Australia won by 162 runs Bellerive Oval, Hobart Umpires: Gerard Abood and Shawn Craig Player of the match: Michael Klinger (WA)
* Tasmania won the toss and elected to field.
* Jake Doran (Tasmania) made his first-class debut.
* Bonus Points: Tasmania 0.50, Western Australia 2.20

### Round 2

* 6 – 9 November Scorecard
* Match awarded to Victoria; abandoned due to unsafe playing conditions Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Umpires: Simon Fry and Michael Graham-Smith
* New South Wales won the toss and elected to bat.
* Play was reduced to just 10 overs on Day 1 and just 24 overs on Day 2 due to rain and a wet outfield.
* The match was abandoned on Day 3 due to unsafe playing conditions. Under Law 7.2 in the Cricket Playing Conditions, Cricket Australia ruled that New South Wales had forfeited the match, and Victoria was awarded the 6 points for a win.
* Jay Lenton (New South Wales) made his first-class debut.
* 6 – 9 November Scorecard
* South Australia won by 1 wicket Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Sam Nogajski and John Ward Player of the match: Travis Head (SA)
* Western Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
* Bonus Points: South Australia 1.50, Western Australia 1.60
* 6 – 9 November Scorecard
* Queensland won by 3 wickets Bellerive Oval, Hobart Umpires: Phillip Gillespie and Mick Martell Player of the match: Sam Heazlett (Qld)
* Tasmania won the toss and elected to bat.
* Sam Heazlett (Queensland) made his first-class debut.
* Sam Heazlett scored his maiden first-class century.
* Bonus Points: Tasmania 1.50, Queensland 0.40

### Round 3

* 14 – 17 November Scorecard
* Queensland won by an innings and 14 runs Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane Umpires: John Ward and Ashley Barrow Player of the match: James Hopes (Qld)
* Queensland won the toss and elected to field.
* Billy Stanlake (Queensland) made his first-class debut.
* The start of play on Day 1 was delayed by 90 minutes due to rain and ended early due to bad light.
* Bonus Points: Queensland 2.50, South Australia 0.50
* 14 – 17 November Scorecard
* Match drawn Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Umpires: Simon Fry and Paul Wilson Player of the match: Will Bosisto (WA)
* Victoria won the toss and elected to bat.
* Aaron Ayre (Victoria) made his first-class debut.
* Bonus Points: Victoria 2.70, Western Australia 0.49
* 14 – 17 November Scorecard
* Tasmania won by 223 runs Bankstown Oval, Sydney Umpires: Sam Nogajski and Geoff Joshua Player of the match: Ben Dunk (Tas)
* Tasmania won the toss and elected to bat.
* With the previous Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground being abandoned because of an unsafe pitch, the fixture was moved to the Bankstown Oval.
* The start of play on Day 1 was delayed by 75 minutes and ended after just 36 overs due to rain.
* Bonus Points: New South Wales 1.68, Tasmania 2.40

### Round 4

* 27 – 30 November Scorecard
* Victoria won by 356 runs Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth Umpires: Shawn Craig and Michael Graham-Smith Player of the match: Scott Boland (Vic)
* Western Australia won the toss and elected to field.
* Joel Paris (Western Australia) made his first-class debut.
* Bonus Points: Western Australia 1.50, Victoria 2.80
* 27 – 30 November Scorecard
* South Australia won by 302 runs Bellerive Oval, Hobart Umpires: Greg Davidson and Paul Wilson Player of the match: Callum Ferguson (SA)
* Tasmania won the toss and elected to field.
* Bonus Points: Tasmania 0.90, South Australia 4.00
* 27 – 30 November Scorecard
* New South Wales won by 7 wickets Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Umpires: Gerard Abood and Ashley Barrow Player of the match: Stephen O'Keefe (NSW)
* Queensland won the toss and elected to bat.
* Bonus Points: New South Wales 2.03, Queensland 1.82

### Round 5

* 6 – 9 December Scorecard
* South Australia won by 8 wickets Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Umpires: Gerard Abood and Geoff Joshua Player of the match: Joe Mennie (SA)
* South Australia won the toss and elected to field.
* Rain delayed play by 90 minutes after tea and ended play early on Day 2.
* Bonus Points: Victoria 1.50, South Australia 1.50
* 6 – 9 December Scorecard
* Western Australia won by 9 wickets Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth Umpires: Simon Fry and Damien Mealey Player of the match: Joel Paris (WA)
* Western Australia won the toss and elected to field.
* Rain reduced Day 1 to just 76 overs of play.
* Bonus Points: Western Australia 2.30, Tasmania 1.60
* 6 – 9 December Scorecard
* New South Wales won by 3 wickets Harrup Park, Mackay Umpires: Shawn Craig and Tony Wilds Player of the match: Matt Renshaw (Qld)
* Queensland won the toss and elected to bat.
* Bonus Points: Queensland 0.68, New South Wales -0.03

### Round 6

* 3 – 6 February Scorecard
* Victoria won by 7 wickets Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Umpires: Gerard Abood and Greg Davidson Player of the match: Daniel Christian (Vic)
* Victoria won the toss and elected to field.
* Rain reduced Day 1 to just 71 overs of play.
* Sam Harper and Ian Holland (both Victoria) made their first-class debuts.
* Bonus Points: Victoria 2.21, Tasmania 1.91
* 3 – 6 February Scorecard
* Match drawn Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln, New Zealand Umpires: Simon Fry and John Ward Player of the match: Adam Voges (WA)
* Western Australia won the toss and elected to field.
* This was the first game in Australian domestic cricket history to be played outside of Australia.
* Bonus Points: New South Wales 1.57, Western Australia 1.57
* 3 – 6 February Scorecard
* Queensland won by 173 runs Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Ashley Barrow and Phillip Gillespie Player of the match: Matt Renshaw (Qld)
* Queensland won the toss and elected to bat.
* Bonus Points: South Australia 1.65, Queensland 3.23

### Round 7

* 14 – 17 February (D/N) Scorecard
* Match drawn Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth Umpires: Gerard Abood and Lubabalo Gcuma (SA) Player of the match: Kurtis Patterson (NSW)
* New South Wales won the toss and elected to bat.
* Bonus Points: Western Australia 1.86, New South Wales 0.94
* 14 – 17 February (D/N) Scorecard
* Queensland won by 7 wickets Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane Umpires: Shawn Craig and Tim Parlane (NZ) Player of the match: James Hopes (Qld)
* Tasmania won the toss and elected to bat.
* Chris Hartley (Queensland) broke the record for the most catches taken by a wicket-keeper in Sheffield Shield history (500).
* Bonus Points: Queensland 3.23, Tasmania 2.39
* 14 – 17 February (D/N) Scorecard
* Victoria won by 218 runs Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Nitin Menon (Ind) and John Ward Player of the match: Scott Boland (Vic)
* Victoria won the toss and elected to bat.
* Cameron Valente (South Australia) made his first-class debut.
* Bonus Points: South Australia 1.74, Victoria 2.75

### Round 8

* 25 – 28 February Scorecard
* New South Wales won by 5 wickets International Sports Stadium, Coffs Harbour Umpires: Ashley Barrow and Michael Graham-Smith Player of the match: Trent Copeland (NSW)
* New South Wales won the toss and elected to field.
* Arjun Nair (New South Wales) and Jake Weatherald (South Australia) both made their first-class debuts.
* Bonus Points: New South Wales 1.61, South Australia 2.48
* 25 – 28 February Scorecard
* Western Australia won by 24 runs Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth Umpires: Nitin Menon (Ind) and Paul Wilson Player of the match: Shaun Marsh (WA)
* Queensland won the toss and elected to field.
* Bonus Points: Western Australia 1.28, Queensland 1.18
* 25 – 28 February Scorecard
* Tasmania won by an innings and 136 runs Bellerive Oval, Hobart Umpires: Lubabalo Gcuma (SA) and Sam Nogajski Player of the match: Ben Dunk (Tas)
* Tasmania won the toss and elected to field.
* Bonus Points: Tasmania 3.09, Victoria 0.50

### Round 9

* 5 – 8 March Scorecard
* New South Wales won by 7 wickets Bellerive Oval, Hobart Umpires: Shawn Craig and John Ward Player of the match: Trent Copeland (NSW)
* New South Wales won the toss and elected to field.
* Harry Conway (New South Wales) made his first-class debut.
* Bonus Points: Tasmania 1.92, New South Wales 2.21
* 5 – 8 March Scorecard
* Queensland won by 100 runs Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane Umpires: Sam Nogajski and Paul Wilson Player of the match: Jack Wildermuth (Qld)
* Victoria won the toss and elected to field.
* Bad light ended play early on Day 1.
* Bonus Points: Queensland 1.50, Victoria 1.50
* 5 – 8 March Scorecard
* South Australia won by 1 wicket Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth Umpires: Geoff Joshua and Mick Martell Player of the match: Joe Mennie (SA)
* South Australia won the toss and elected to field.
* Josh Nicholas (Western Australia) made his first-class debut.
* Bonus Points: Western Australia 2.35, South Australia 1.80

### Round 10

* 15 – 18 March Scorecard
* Western Australia won by an innings and 6 runs Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane Umpires: Geoff Joshua and John Ward Player of the match: Hilton Cartwright (WA)
* Western Australia won the toss and elected to field.
* Jhye Richardson (Western Australia) made his first-class debut.
* Bonus Points: Queensland 1.00, Western Australia 1.82
* 15 – 18 March Scorecard
* South Australia won by an innings and 78 runs Gliderol Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Gerard Abood and Sam Nogajski Player of the match: Chadd Sayers (SA)
* Tasmania won the toss and elected to bat.
* Elliot Opie (South Australia) and Caleb Jewell (Tasmania) both made their first-class debuts.
* Bonus Points: South Australia 2.96, Tasmania 1.50
* 15 – 18 March Scorecard
* Match drawn Traeger Park, Alice Springs Umpires: Mick Martell and Paul Wilson Player of the match: Cameron White (Vic)
* New South Wales won the toss and elected to bat.
* Bonus Points: Victoria 1.51, New South Wales 2.44

## Final

* 26 – 30 March Scorecard
* Victoria won by 7 wickets Gliderol Stadium, Adelaide Umpires: Mick Martell and Paul Wilson Player of the match: Peter Handscomb (Vic)
* South Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
* Victoria became the first visiting team to win a Sheffield Shield final since New South Wales in 2004-05.

## Statistics

### Most runs

| Player | Team | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | Ave | HS | 100 | 50 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ben Dunk | Tasmania | 10 | 19 | 1 | 837 | 46.55 | 190 | 4 | 2 |
| Travis Dean | Victoria | 11 | 20 | 2 | 807 | 44.83 | 154* | 3 | 4 |
| Peter Handscomb | Victoria | 11 | 19 | 1 | 784 | 43.55 | 137 | 3 | 4 |
| George Bailey | Tasmania | 9 | 17 | 1 | 761 | 47.56 | 148* | 3 | 3 |
| Matt Renshaw | Queensland | 9 | 17 | 3 | 738 | 52.71 | 129* | 2 | 4 |

### Most wickets

| Player | Team | Mat | Inns | Overs | Wkts | Ave | BBI | SR |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Joe Mennie | South Australia | 11 | 21 | 429.5 | 51 | 21.21 | 4/50 | 50.50 |
| Daniel Worrall | South Australia | 9 | 18 | 357.5 | 44 | 26.18 | 6/96 | 48.70 |
| Jackson Bird | Tasmania | 8 | 15 | 276.2 | 40 | 19.50 | 7/45 | 41.40 |
| Michael Hogan | Western Australia | 9 | 18 | 342.5 | 37 | 24.64 | 4/29 | 55.50 |
| Chris Tremain | Victoria | 9 | 15 | 228.1 | 36 | 21.05 | 5/52 | 38.00 |
