Carey versus Boland showcases the value of the Shield final

A battle worthy of an audience of 90,000 took place in front of 2500 as the IPL and the PSL started overseas, but it showcased the value of the Shield final to Australian cricket

Alex Malcolm

Published: Mar 29, 2026, 9:43 AM (4 hrs ago)

While Travis Head and Steven Smith were playing in the IPL and PSL respectively on Saturday night, on the other side of the world roughly 2500 people gathered at the Junction Oval in Melbourne to watch Australia's other Ashes heroes Alex Carey and Scott Boland go head to head in a Sheffield Shield final battle for the ages that left the game on a knife's edge at stumps on day four.

It was an epic encounter that could have easily been appointment viewing in front of 90,000 at the MCG. Carey made 103 in the face of Boland's 3 for 78 from 21 outstanding overs.

Carey won the individual battle himself with a masterful display that, alongside Nathan McAndrew, is the reason South Australia has a chance to steal the Shield title from Victoria's grasp.

He faced 33 balls from Boland in the innings, including 30 on day four, and scored 28 runs, with all 28 coming on the fourth day. It came on a difficult Junction Oval pitch, where the next highest score in the game so far is 64 not out from Victoria bowler Fergus O'Neill.

Carey unfurled a stunning straight drive off the first ball he faced from Boland this morning that went through the bowler's legs for four before he had time to get his hands down to stop it.

Related

Carey, McAndrew heroics give South Australia hope of stealing Shield title

Thereafter, he did not face more than three dots in a row from Boland without scoring until the second new ball, when Carey was protecting No. 11 Jordan Buckingham from strike by turning down singles.

There was a slice of luck, with an inside edge missing off stump and evading Victoria keeper Sam Harper to find the rope. But next ball he emphatically thumped a cover drive on the up to reassert his control.

Boland's hat-trick ball, after he had reduced South Australia to 122 for 7 and put Victoria in sight of a swift victory, was tucked off the hip with ease for a single.

Chris Rogers, Victoria's coach and the former Australia opener with five Test hundreds to his name, was in awe of Carey's performance.

"He's outstanding," Rogers said after play. "I think there are lessons there for a lot of bats, just how he covers the ball that moves away from him. I think we see a lot of batters who kind of cut inside the ball, and he was able to kind of smother the movement away. And it's something I think a lot of us can learn from. He played beautifully. He controlled the innings. He had faith in his partners. I mean, what more would you want from your star player, and he's a big-time player, and he stood up."

Carey's commitment to the Shield is exemplary. He has not missed a game he has been available for this season for South Australia in a hectic summer. Boland, too, is playing his sixth Shield match of the summer on top of five straight Tests for Australia. It is his 100th Shield appearance for Victoria too, becoming the first Victorian fast bowler to reach that milestone.

The value of their commitment to playing in Australia's domestic red-ball competition is immeasurable.

"It's so good," Rogers said. "It's good for, one, the reputation of Sheffield Shield cricket. But two, for the players who are involved. A number of our younger players, especially the left-handers, are watching how Carey goes about playing Boland. That's invaluable."

Carey continues to carry South Australia on his back in big games. In his fourth Shield final, he now has two centuries and two half-centuries while averaging 51.25 in deciders. He now has 10 Shield centuries all told to go with his three Test hundreds. He could not place where this would rank in the immediate aftermath, asking to defer the question until after the result is known on Monday. But win or lose, this will no doubt be one of his best.

"Scotty bowling in front of Victorian fans is a pretty tough battle," Carey said after play.

"I can't speak highly enough of Shield finals. They're great contests between states. I was fortunate enough to win one last year, and it meant a lot to myself, but also to the state.

"I can really feel the contest. I can feel the want from both teams. The IPL started last night, so it's hard to compete, I guess at times, with those franchises. But speaking for myself, every opportunity I get to play for South Australia, I want to do that. I want to win another Shield. But if it's not this year. It's down the track as well. So for myself, I've got a lot of pride for these colours. It's where I guess when you're a junior, you want to represent your state, and if you're lucky enough to go on and represent your country, I guess that's not lost on me."

Alex Malcolm is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo

Click here to read article