The Sheffield Shield clash between New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia ended in a frustrating draw at the SCG, but the headlines were stolen by a season-ending injury to a Test star and a scathing critique of Cricket Australia’s regulations by axed coach Greg Shipperd.
Despite a dominant performance from NSW, led by a career-best 173 from Kurtis Patterson* in his 100th first-class match, rain delays on the final day prevented a result. NSW declared at 440/8, setting a target that South Australia never looked like chasing, eventually finishing at 118/2.
Brendan Doggett’s Season Over Following “Innocuous” Injury
The most significant blow of the match was the loss of South Australian paceman Brendan Doggett. After a career-defining summer that included a Test debut in the Ashes, Doggett’s season has been cut short by a grade two hamstring tear with tendon damage.
The injury occurred during what coach Ryan Harris described as an “innocuous chase for the ball” late on day three. Doggett, who left the ground on crutches, faces a long road to recovery. Harris confirmed the focus is now entirely on rehabilitating the quick for Australia’s upcoming Test tour of Bangladesh in August.
“He’s had a really good summer… he felt like he was finally in a good place,” Harris told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s a big loss for us.”
Shipperd Slams “Mystical” Over-Rate Penalties Amid Coaching Exit
The match also served as a final stand for Greg Shipperd, who was recently cut from his roles with both NSW and the Sydney Sixers. Rather than going quietly, Shipperd took aim at Cricket Australia’s (CA) over-rate protocols.
NSW found themselves in a bizarre position on the final day: had the rain washed out play entirely, the home side would have been docked four points for a slow over-rate, despite not having the chance to bowl the spin overs necessary to fix it. Shipperd labeled the logic behind these penalties as a “fallacy” and “mystical,” arguing that the rules don’t account for weather-impacted games.
Final Day Highlights and Future Outlook
When play finally resumed at 3:30 PM on the fourth day, the contest drifted toward its inevitable conclusion. Joel Davies celebrated his maiden first-class wicket by dismissing Nathan McSweeney, but a gritty half-century from MacKenzie Harvey ensured South Australia survived.
In a lighthearted end to a tense week, Kurtis Patterson bowled the first over of his professional career to close out the game. For Shipperd, the “moral victory” was bittersweet. While disappointed by his dismissal, he remained proud of the team’s performance, stating he would “dust himself off” before deciding on his coaching future at the end of the season.
