South Australian cricket team

South Australian cricket team
Name	South Australia
Captain	Jake Lehmann
Coach	Jason Gillespie
Founded	1871
Ground	Adelaide Oval
Colours	Red, Blue, Gold
First fc	Victoria
First fc year	1871
Title1	Sheffield Shield
Title1wins	13
Title2	One-Day Cup

Contents

History
Home grounds
Players
Honours
Records
See also

South Australian cricket team. The team, nicknamed the West End Redbacks for sponsorship reasons, represents the state of South Australia in Australian domestic cricket. Administered by the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA), it competes in the premier first-class Sheffield Shield and the limited-overs Marsh One-Day Cup. Based at the historic Adelaide Oval, the team has produced many legendary players who have gone on to represent the Australia national cricket team.

History

The South Australian Cricket Association was formed in 1871, with the team playing its initial first-class match against Victoria that same year. Early success was sporadic, but the side gained its first Sheffield Shield title in the 1910–11 season under the captaincy of Clem Hill. A golden era followed in the 1970s, featuring stars like Ian Chappell and Greg Chappell, leading to multiple Shield victories. The team endured a prolonged championship drought after the 1995–96 triumph, finally broken in the 2022–23 season under coach Jason Gillespie and captain Travis Head. Throughout its history, the team has been a crucial nursery for Australian talent, with notable alumni including Don Bradman, who played for the state before his legendary Test career, and more recent stars like Pat Cummins.

Home grounds

The primary and iconic home of the team is the Adelaide Oval, a world-renowned venue that has hosted The Ashes, ICC Cricket World Cup, and ICC T20 World Cup matches. The Oval underwent a major redevelopment completed in 2014, enhancing its facilities while retaining historic features like the Heritage Scoreboard and the cathedral views. For some domestic fixtures, the team also utilizes Karen Rolton Oval, a dedicated women's and community cricket venue named after former captain Karen Rolton. Other grounds used historically or for lesser matches include the former Adelaide Oval No. 2 and Gliderol Stadium in Glenelg.

Players

The squad has been home to numerous cricketing greats. Legendary batsman Don Bradman began his first-class career for the state, setting extraordinary records. Other iconic batters include the Chappell brothers, David Hookes, and Darren Lehmann. Prominent bowlers feature leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett, paceman Jason Gillespie, and modern fast bowlers like Kane Richardson and Wes Agar. Notable wicket-keepers include Tim Nielsen and Alex Carey. The current captain is Jake Lehmann, son of Darren Lehmann, with leadership in recent years also provided by Travis Head and Callum Ferguson. Players are selected from local Adelaide Grade Cricket clubs and national pathways.

Honours

The team's major honours are in the first-class and domestic one-day competitions. They have won the Sheffield Shield on thirteen occasions, with notable victories in 1910–11, the 1970s era, 1981–82, 1995–96, and most recently in 2022–23. In limited-overs cricket, they have claimed the domestic one-day title four times, previously known as the Mercantile Mutual Cup and Ford Ranger Cup, with wins in 1986–87, 1994–95, 2001–02, and 2010–11. The team has also been runner-up in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash, the predecessor to the Big Bash League, and has produced multiple winners of individual awards like the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year.

Records

The team holds several significant domestic records. The highest team total is 821, scored against Queensland in 2019–20. The highest individual score is 365 by Bradman against Tasmania in 1935–36, which remains the highest first-class score at the Adelaide Oval. Callum Ferguson holds the record for most runs in a Sheffield Shield season for the state. In bowling, Clarrie Grimmett's 513 first-class wickets for South Australia is a landmark, while Jason Gillespie holds the record for best bowling figures in an innings with 9/41 against Western Australia. Wicket-keeper Tim Nielsen holds the record for most dismissals in a career for the state.