FOR just the second time since the Sheffield Shield final was introduced almost 40 years ago, this week’s season-decider will be played with the bonus-points system to determine the winner if the match ends in a draw.
Queensland and New South Wales (NSW) will contest the final of the 119th Marsh Sheffield Shield at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field from tomorrow, with the Blues looking to complete the double of winning both the one-day and four-day competitions.
In their way are an impressive Bulls outfit, led by captain Usman Khawaja, that finished on top of the table, but one that won’t have the luxury of knowing a drawn match will secure them their ninth Shield title.

When the Shield final was introduced for the first time in 1982-83, it was determined that a drawn decider would mean the team that finished on top of the ladder in the regular season would be crowned the champions.
But for the 2018-19 season, the bonus-points system that is used during the round-robin stage of the competition was added to the final to avoid the home team preparing a flat pitch to achieve a draw and capture the title.
Initially introduced as a one-year trial, the bonus-points system is back for the final this season.
Four of the past seven Shield finals have ended in draws while only six of the past 37 finals have been won by the side that finished second on the ladder.

The bonus point system works like this: the batting side receive 0.01 points for every run scored beyond 200 in the first 100 overs of their first innings. The bowling side receive 0.1 points for every wicket taken inside the first 100 overs of their opponents’ first innings.
So, say NSW win the toss and bat and are 320-5 after 100 overs, they would receive 1.2 points and Queensland 0.5 points. Then in reply, if Queensland are bowled out for 290 in 90 overs, the Bulls would earn 0.90 points and NSW 1.0 for taking all 10 wickets.
Add them together and NSW would have 2.2 bonus points and Queensland 1.4, meaning NSW would take the title if the match ends in a draw.

For the bonus-points system to come into play, the match must last at least 270 overs. If the bonus points are equal after two innings and the match is a draw, the team that finished in first place will take home the Shield.
There was no Shield final last year due to the pandemic, but it is back in 2020-21 and so is the bonus point system, which has the support of senior NSW quick Mitch Starc.
“I really like the fact that the bonus point has come into it,” Starc told cricket.com.au.
“It means the home team can’t just bat for five days if they want.”
The Allan Border Field pitch has traditionally favoured batting, but only one of the past four completed Shield matches at the venue has resulted in a draw. (Cricket Australia)