The Sheffield Shield 2026-27 begins on 7 October, with defending champions South Australia facing Victoria at Junction Oval. The six-team competition runs until the final from 25 to 29 March 2027. Here is the complete schedule with Indian timings, all six state squads and captains, the key fixtures and viewing information for fans in India.
Sheffield Shield 2026-27 dates and format
The Sheffield Shield is Australia’s domestic first-class competition. League matches are scheduled over four days, with each team facing the other five teams twice, once at home and once away.
That gives each side 10 matches and the competition 30 league fixtures. The top two teams then meet in a five-day final, taking the season total to 31 matches. The higher-ranked finalist earns the right to host the decider.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening match | Victoria vs South Australia, 7 October 2026 |
| League stage | 7 October 2026 to 17 March 2027 |
| Final | 25 to 29 March 2027 |
| Teams | Six |
| Total matches | 31, including the final |
| Defending champions | South Australia |
| Pink-ball round | 8 to 11 February 2027 |
South Australia enter the season after winning consecutive Shield titles. Their opening game against Victoria is a repeat of the previous season’s final.
Complete Sheffield Shield 2026-27 schedule
All 30 league fixtures and the final are listed below. Start times are in Indian Standard Time (IST) and have been converted from Cricket Australia’s published local timings, including Australian daylight saving.
The dates show each match’s scheduled playing window. Games can finish early, and weather may affect daily start times. The three matches in round seven are day-night fixtures played with a pink ball.
| Round | Dates | Match | Venue | Start (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 to 10 Oct 2026 | Victoria vs South Australia | Junction Oval, Melbourne | 5:00 AM |
| 1 | 8 to 11 Oct 2026 | New South Wales vs Tasmania | Cricket Central, Sydney | 5:00 AM |
| 1 | 8 to 11 Oct 2026 | Western Australia vs Queensland | WACA Ground, Perth | 8:00 AM |
| 2 | 19 to 22 Oct 2026 | South Australia vs Queensland | Adelaide Oval | 5:30 AM |
| 2 | 19 to 22 Oct 2026 | Tasmania vs Victoria | Ninja Stadium, Hobart | 5:00 AM |
| 2 | 19 to 22 Oct 2026 | Western Australia vs New South Wales | WACA Ground, Perth | 8:00 AM |
| 3 | 28 to 31 Oct 2026 | South Australia vs Western Australia | Adelaide Oval | 5:30 AM |
| 3 | 30 Oct to 2 Nov 2026 | Tasmania vs New South Wales | Ninja Stadium, Hobart | 5:00 AM |
| 3 | 31 Oct to 3 Nov 2026 | Queensland vs Victoria | The Gabba, Brisbane | 5:30 AM |
| 4 | 11 to 14 Nov 2026 | Queensland vs Tasmania | The Gabba, Brisbane | 6:00 AM |
| 4 | 11 to 14 Nov 2026 | New South Wales vs South Australia | Cricket Central, Sydney | 5:00 AM |
| 4 | 11 to 14 Nov 2026 | Victoria vs Western Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 5:00 AM |
| 5 | 22 to 25 Nov 2026 | New South Wales vs Queensland | Sydney: SCG or Cricket Central, confirmation pending | 5:00 AM |
| 5 | 23 to 26 Nov 2026 | Western Australia vs Tasmania | Perth Stadium | 8:00 AM |
| 5 | 24 to 27 Nov 2026 | South Australia vs Victoria | Adelaide Oval | 5:30 AM |
| 6 | 3 to 6 Dec 2026 | New South Wales vs Western Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground | 5:00 AM |
| 6 | 3 to 6 Dec 2026 | Victoria vs Queensland | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 5:00 AM |
| 6 | 3 to 6 Dec 2026 | South Australia vs Tasmania | Adelaide Oval | 5:30 AM |
| 7 (day-night) | 8 to 11 Feb 2027 | Queensland vs Western Australia | The Gabba, Brisbane | 9:30 AM |
| 7 (day-night) | 8 to 11 Feb 2027 | Victoria vs Tasmania | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 9:00 AM |
| 7 (day-night) | 8 to 11 Feb 2027 | South Australia vs New South Wales | Adelaide Oval | 9:30 AM |
| 8 | 20 to 23 Feb 2027 | New South Wales vs Victoria | Sydney Cricket Ground | 5:00 AM |
| 8 | 20 to 23 Feb 2027 | Tasmania vs Queensland | Ninja Stadium, Hobart | 5:00 AM |
| 8 | 20 to 23 Feb 2027 | Western Australia vs South Australia | WACA Ground, Perth | 8:00 AM |
| 9 | 2 to 5 Mar 2027 | Queensland vs New South Wales | Allan Border Field, Brisbane | 5:30 AM |
| 9 | 2 to 5 Mar 2027 | Tasmania vs South Australia | Ninja Stadium, Hobart | 5:00 AM |
| 9 | 2 to 5 Mar 2027 | Western Australia vs Victoria | WACA Ground, Perth | 8:00 AM |
| 10 | 14 to 17 Mar 2027 | Queensland vs South Australia | Allan Border Field, Brisbane | 5:30 AM |
| 10 | 14 to 17 Mar 2027 | Victoria vs New South Wales | Junction Oval, Melbourne | 5:00 AM |
| 10 | 14 to 17 Mar 2027 | Tasmania vs Western Australia | Ninja Stadium, Hobart | 5:00 AM |
| Final | 25 to 29 Mar 2027 | First vs second in the league standings | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
Cricket Australia’s fixture announcement lists either the Sydney Cricket Ground or Cricket Central for NSW’s match against Queensland from 22 November. The venue remains subject to confirmation in this guide. The final’s venue and starting time will also be added once confirmed.
READ ALSO: WPL 2027 Retained and Released Players: Full List for All Teams
The competition pauses after round six in December and resumes on 8 February. Ninja Stadium is the sponsored name used for Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
All six teams and their captains
These are the season’s Shield captains. A stand-in may lead an individual match when the regular captain is unavailable, including during international duty.
| Team | Shield captain | Head coach |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Nic Maddinson | Brad Haddin |
| Queensland | Marnus Labuschagne | James Hopes |
| South Australia | Nathan McSweeney | Ryan Harris |
| Tasmania | Jordan Silk | Jeff Vaughan |
| Victoria | Will Sutherland | Chris Rogers |
| Western Australia | Aaron Hardie | Beau Casson |
NSW have appointed Nic Maddinson as their Shield captain, while Lachlan Shaw leads their one-day side. Western Australia have handed the Shield captaincy to Aaron Hardie, replacing Sam Whiteman.
Sheffield Shield 2026-27 team squads
The lists below cover the published state season squads, including associated Cricket Australia-contracted players and rookies. They are not the selected squad for every Shield match. Players on international duty may be unavailable, and states announce their match squads separately.
Rookies are players on development contracts. A rookie contract does not guarantee a place in the playing XI.
New South Wales squad
Captain: Nic Maddinson.
Main squad: Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Joel Davies, Oliver Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Hicks, Bryce Jackson, Riley Kingsell, Sam Konstas, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Jack Nisbet, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Will Salzmann, Tanveer Sangha, Lachlan Shaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Charlie Stobo.
Rookies: Charlie Anderson, Jake Scott, Harjas Singh.
Maddinson leads a squad containing Steve Smith and the senior Australian pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Their availability will depend on national commitments.
Queensland squad
Captain: Marnus Labuschagne.
Main squad: Tom Balkin, Xavier Bartlett, Hugo Burdon, Jack Clayton, Cameron Gannon, Lachlan Hearne, Hayden Kerr, Marnus Labuschagne, Angus Lovell, Dylan McLachlan, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Jem Ryan, Jack Sinfield, Mark Steketee, Tom Straker, Mitchell Swepson, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Tom Whitney, Jack Wildermuth, Adam Zampa.
Rookies: Tom Campbell, Steven Hogan, Charlie Lachmund, Oli Patterson.
Adam Zampa is included with Queensland following his move from NSW. Cameron Gannon has also returned to the Bulls from Western Australia. A place on the season list does not guarantee selection in the red-ball team.
South Australia squad
Captain: Nathan McSweeney.
Main squad: Wes Agar, Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matthew Gilkes, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Hanno Jacobs, Spencer Johnson, Jake Lehmann, Ben Manenti, Nathan McAndrew, Noah McFadyen, Nathan McSweeney, Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope, Henry Thornton, Campbell Thompson, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Mackenzie Harvey, Jerrssis Wadia, Jake Weatherald.
Rookies: Thomas Brown, Kane Halfpenny, Douwtjie Hoogenboezem, Hayden Schiller.
Jake Weatherald has returned from Tasmania, and Matthew Gilkes has joined from NSW. Nathan McSweeney leads the defending champions.
Tasmania squad
Captain: Jordan Silk.
Main squad: Marcus Bean, Gabe Bell, Jackson Bird, Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, Brad Hope, Caleb Jewell, Matthew Kuhnemann, Raf MacMillan, Caelan Maladay, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Mitch Owen, Will Prestwidge, Nivethan Radhakrishnan, Jordan Silk, Billy Stanlake, Tim Ward, Beau Webster, Teague Wyllie.
Rookies: Kasey Barton, Zac Curtain, Aidan O’Connor, Nitesh Samuel, William Taylor.
Teague Wyllie has moved from Western Australia, while Ben McDermott and Nikhil Chaudhary are on the main state list. Jordan Silk remains the captain.
Victoria squad
Captain: Will Sutherland.
Main squad: Austin Anlezark, Liam Blackford, Scott Boland, Dylan Brasher, Ashley Chandrasinghe, Harry Dixon, Sam Elliott, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, Blake Macdonald, Cam McClure, David Moody, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Oliver Peake, Mitch Perry, Tyler Pearson, Tom Rogers, Will Sutherland, Doug Warren.
Rookies: Harry Hoekstra, Tom Paddington, Aryan Sharma.
Glenn Maxwell and Matt Short have not taken state contracts for this season, but remain available to represent Victoria when their schedules allow. They are therefore not included in the contracted list above.
Western Australia squad
Captain: Aaron Hardie.
Main squad: Cameron Bancroft, Mahli Beardman, Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Joel Curtis, Kieran Elliott, Sam Fanning, Jayden Goodwin, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Liam Haskett, Josh Inglis, Will Malajczuk, Mitch Marsh, Tom Murray, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Ashton Turner, Sam Whiteman.
Rookies: Simon Budge, Albert Esterhuysen, Jordan Quiggin, Corey Wasley.
Hardie leads the Shield side under new head coach Beau Casson. Sam Whiteman remains on the published squad list despite the captaincy change.
Key matches to watch
Victoria vs South Australia, 7 to 10 October
The opening match brings last season’s finalists together at Junction Oval. It gives South Australia an immediate test of their title defence and Victoria an early chance to respond to their final defeat.
Victoria vs Western Australia, 11 to 14 November
This is the first of Victoria’s three scheduled Shield matches at the MCG this season. It also gives Western Australia’s new leadership group a significant away assignment.
Western Australia vs Tasmania, 23 to 26 November
Sheffield Shield cricket returns to Perth Stadium for the first time since 2018. With most WA home matches taking place at the WACA Ground, this fixture offers a different setting for both teams.
The pink-ball round, 8 to 11 February
All six teams return from the mid-season break in day-night matches. Queensland face WA at the Gabba, Victoria host Tasmania at the MCG, and South Australia play NSW at Adelaide Oval.
The round gives players experience under lights before the 150th Anniversary Test at the MCG in March. For Indian viewers, the scheduled starts are 9:00 AM IST in Melbourne and 9:30 AM IST in Brisbane and Adelaide.
Final league round, 14 to 17 March
Queensland host South Australia, Victoria play NSW, and Tasmania face WA. These are the last league fixtures before the top two teams move on to the final from 25 March. Their importance to qualification will depend on the standings at that stage.
Where to watch Sheffield Shield 2026-27 in India
FanCode has listed Sheffield Shield 2026-27 on its platform, with individual match pages for the upcoming season. Indian viewers should check the FanCode app or website for the live-stream option and the pass required for their chosen fixture before purchasing.
A confirmed Indian television channel was not identified in the official information checked on 29 September. This guide therefore does not name a TV broadcaster or promise that every fixture will be available under the same streaming package.
Cricket Australia has announced domestic coverage through its website, the CA Live app and Kayo Sports. Access can depend on location, so those Australian viewing arrangements should not be treated as a guarantee of free streaming in India.
Most daytime games in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart begin at 5:00 AM IST. Adelaide’s scheduled daytime starts are 5:30 AM IST, while Perth fixtures begin at 8:00 AM IST. Brisbane timings vary by fixture, so use the full table above.
