Sheffield Shield

Sheffield Shield

Countries	Australia
Administrator	Cricket Australia
Format	First-class
First edition	1892–93
Latest edition	2023–24
Tournament format	Double round-robin, then final
Number of teams	6
Current champion	Western Australia (18th title)
Most successful	New South Wales (47 titles)
Most runs	Darren Lehmann (South Australia and Victoria) 12,971 runs
Most wickets	Clarrie Grimmett (Victoria and South Australia) 513 wickets
TV	Cricket Network Kayo Sports Fox Cricket (selected matches)
Website	Cricket Australia
2023–24 Sheffield Shield season

The Sheffield Shield (currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Marsh Sheffield Shield) is the domestic first-class cricket competition of Australia. The tournament is contested between teams representing the six states of Australia. The Sheffield Shield is named after Lord Sheffield.

Prior to the Shield being established, a number of intercolonial matches were played. The Shield, donated by Lord Sheffield, was first contested during the 1892–93 season, between New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. Queensland was admitted for the 1926–27 season, Western Australia for the 1947–48 season, and Tasmania for the 1977–78 season.

The competition is contested in a double-round-robin format, with each team playing every other team twice, i.e. home and away. Points are awarded based on wins, draws, ties and bonus points for runs and wickets in a team's first 100 batting and bowling overs, with the top two teams playing a final at the end of the season. Regular matches last for four days; the final lasts for five days.

The Sheffield Shield is supported by a Second XI reserves competition.