Victoria eye first title since 2019 while South Australia aim for back-to-back wins amid rain concerns at Junction Oval

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Victoria have made a bold selection call ahead of the Sheffield Shield final against South Australia, dropping Mitchell Perry in favour of Sam Elliott as both teams prepare for a potentially weather-affected clash at Melbourne’s Junction Oval starting Thursday.

The return of Fergus O’Neill to the playing XI created a tough decision between two in-form bowlers. Despite Perry finishing second in the Shield Player of the Year race with 32 wickets at an impressive average of 21.75, Elliott edged ahead after claiming 33 wickets at a superior average of 17.18, including three five-wicket hauls. Their batting contributions across the season were nearly identical, making the decision even tighter.

Victoria head coach Chris Rogers admitted it was one of the hardest calls of his tenure. He emphasized that while both players deserved a spot, Elliott’s slightly better overall season ultimately tipped the scales. Perry, however, handled the omission professionally, with Rogers expressing confidence in his future performances.

South Australia, meanwhile, are also weighing their team combination. Captain Nathan McSweeney revealed that legspinner Lloyd Pope is in contention as a second spin option alongside Ben Manenti. However, this could come at the cost of a pace bowler. The pitch at Junction Oval is expected to offer more assistance than last week’s encounter between the two sides, with added grass and moisture due to recent rainfall in Melbourne.

Weather is set to play a crucial role in the final, with rain forecast across the opening days. The five-day format provides extra time for a result, but if the match ends in a draw, bonus points will determine the winner. Teams earn points based on their first-innings performance, including runs scored beyond 200 and wickets taken within the first 100 overs.

Victoria are particularly mindful of this rule after a costly mistake in the 2021-22 final against Western Australia. Captain Will Sutherland noted that the team has learned from past errors and even used their recent match against South Australia as a trial to refine their approach to bonus points.

As both teams finalize their strategies, the Sheffield Shield final promises an intense battle shaped by selection dilemmas, pitch conditions, and unpredictable Melbourne weather.