South Australia’s cricket team is aiming for a historic double victory. Fresh from their One-Day Cup win, Nathan McSweeney’s team is now focused on securing the Sheffield Shield.
McSweeney led South Australia to their first One-Day title in 13 years with a dominant victory over Victoria at Adelaide Oval. Achieving the double of both the One-Day Cup and the Sheffield Shield in the same season is a rare feat, accomplished only 11 times previously, and never by South Australia.
Western Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria are the only states to have achieved this double. However, McSweeney believes that South Australia has a golden opportunity to break this streak, especially after ending their trophy drought.
‘Winning the One-Day Cup is a significant step,’ McSweeney commented. ‘We will enjoy this victory, but our focus is now on the Shield final. This win gives us confidence, and we are eager for more success.’
South Australia hasn’t won the Sheffield Shield since 1995-96, but they currently lead the competition and are well-positioned to host the final. With two matches remaining, they have a strong lead over New South Wales. McSweeney is confident that their One-Day Cup success will boost their performance in the longer format.
‘It has been a long time since South Australia won a title,’ he acknowledged. ‘But the current team has shown the ability to win over the past few years. We aim for consistency and hope this is the beginning of a period of sustained success.’
McSweeney credited coach Ryan Harris for instilling belief within the team. ‘Ryan Harris has brought a crucial element of belief,’ he stated. ‘We’ve won from difficult positions this year, which highlights the team’s resilience and the coaching staff’s impact.’
