Sheffield Shield - Competition Format

Competition Format

Each side has played each other both home and away every season with the following exceptions:

• South Australia and Victoria played only once in 1901/02.
• Queensland and South Australia played only once in 1926/27.
• Western Australia played each team only once from their debut in 1946/47 until 1955/56 inclusive.
• Tasmania played each team only once from their debut in 1977/78 until 1981/82 inclusive.

Where the teams played an unequal number of games, their final points were calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Matches were timeless (i.e. played to an outright result, weather and schedule permitting) up to 1926/27. A 4-day time limit has applied since 1927/28.

Since 1982/83, the top two teams after the 10 home and away rounds have met in a final. The team with the most points hosts the final against the second ranked team. The match is played at the home ground of the top ranked team, and they only need to draw/tie that match to win the title.