Questions have been asked about the Sheffield Shield bonus point system after Queensland made next week’s final courtesy of a draw in the last game and ended the 10-round season with less wins than Victoria.
South Australia had already secured hosting rights for the decider after netting six wins from the first nine game, but three other teams all had a chance to make the final going into the last game.
With just five overs to go in the final game at the WACA, Western Australia was bowled out by Victoria 35 runs short of a mammoth target set by the Vics, who themselves had lost their chance to make the final after Queensland’s batters earnt enough bonus points to stay in second spot.
Victoria’s win, sealed when former Test quick Peter Siddle, playing his final first-class game for his state aged 40, snared the last wicket, was their fourth for the season.
That was one more than Queensland, but the Bulls finished .27 points ahead courtesy of bonus points achieved in the final game.
Victorian skipper Will Sutherland was left frustrated by the fact more wins did not equal a place in the final.
“We’ve only got ourselves to blame, we lost a few games we know we should have won,” he said.
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“But in saying that, we did win four games, and Queensland won three and they have somehow made the final. That is a little but interesting and confusing with the bonus system there.”
Queensland won all three of its matches in the second half of the season after the break for the Big Bash, rising from last into an improbable finals berth.
Bulls batter Jimmy Pierson, who made a century as part of a crucial 151-run stand with Jack Wildermuth in Adelaide that delivered the vital bonus points, conceded it was a “crazy” way to move up the table.
But the availability of bonus points had been crucial in Queensland’s batting plans.
They targeted making 330 inside 100 overs of their first innings to stay in second, beating that mark in reaching 356.
“We knew what the bonus points structure looked like after the games around Australia. We knew with the Victoria-WA game, for us to stay in front if Victoria won the game we needed those bonus points from that batting innings,” Pierson said.
“We knew how the day was set up, to look to me to bat through and we knew we had power with Nes (Michael Neser) and Jack Wildermuth behind us to come in and it just dovetailed nicely.
“I’ve never played in a season where three wins could potentially get you into a Shield final, it’s crazy to think that.”
The late surge was also not lost on Queensland skipper Marnus Labuschagne, who returned for the final round and will now lead them into the decider.
“To be in the position we’re in now after five games with no wins, and being able to pull in three wins in the last five games and a draw, that’s a really good effort,” he said.