One-Day Cup 2026-27: All you need to know

When does it start?

Friday, September 18! Western Australia and South Australia will open this year's competition, with the WACA Ground playing host to the tournament opener.

There will be six games in the first week of the competition, with Allan Border Field (Queensland), Karen Rolton Oval (South Australia) and Junction Oval (Victoria) also hosting matches early doors.

Reigning champions New South Wales begin their campaign on Tuesday, September 22 against arch-rivals Queensland. Each state plays two games, just to whet the appetite, before the Sheffield Shield commences on October 7.

What's the schedule?

As was the case last summer, each team will play seven matches across the One-Day Cup season with the two top-ranked teams qualifying for the final on February 14, which will be hosted by the team that finishes on top of the table after the home-and-away matches.

Each team will play every other state once (five games) prior to the KFC BBL|16 break and a further two after, with each state will host at least three home One-Day Cup matches across the summer.

You can find the full schedule along with broadcast details for each match here.

This is the 58th edition of the men's One-Day Cup after beginning in the 1969-70 season. There have been some amazing moments over the years, you can check out the some of the best in the article below.

From the coaches:

Cricket.com.au chatted to each of the six head coaches to get the latest intel from the pre-season and their hopes for the summer ahead. The link below each coach takes you to the comprehensive state preview for that side. Make sure you check out each of the full previews for each team on the website or CA Live app over the coming days.

James Hopes (Queensland): "I've reminded the senior group of players that they've won multiple Shield titles. I think they sometimes lose sight of that fact. I've said to them: 'You guys aren't in a rebuilding phase here – you've got a real good young group with you now so you're actually in a really exciting phase, and this can be accelerated by what you do'."

Chris Rogers (Victoria): "We feel we've got a pretty good squad with lots of talent, as shown by not being far off winning a Shield last season. We feel there's a lot more growth within the squad and we'll keep looking to give them opportunities, and hopefully we can get a number of these players to further their own careers as well … and take that next step."

Beau Casson (Western Australia): "New head coach, new red ball captain … It's our chance to write the pages of this chapter within WA cricket. We've got some young players coming through that we're excited about to go with a mixture of experience. We know if we can tap into both of those age profiles within our squad, we're going to be very competitive. I'm very bullish on how we'll go and how we can improve."

Ryan Harris (South Australia): "We want to win three (Sheffield Shield titles) in a row. We want to win the one-day trophy. But by doing that, you've got to stay in the present. Make sure you play every ball, bowl every ball. In that moment be the best you can be."

Brad Haddin (NSW): "What's impressed me most is the upside in the group; looking at the group from different angles and watching from afar, I actually don't think this group fully understands how good a cricket team they could be. It's really important to everyone (at NSW) that we start to get our four-day cricket right and we start to find ways to win. We haven't won a game on our home track at Cricket Central (five draws, one loss), so we've got to find ways to make our home track a place that we dominate."

Jeff Vaughan (Tasmania): "We've just got to keep putting ourselves in a position where we are challenging for finals. With the guys who are going to be away with Australia (Nathan Ellis, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Kuhnemann, Beau Webster) and Australia A (Nikhil Chaudhary, Mitch Owen), it's going to be an exciting time for some others who are going to get opportunities. We've still got experienced players in the captain Jordan Silk, Tim Ward, Jake Doran, Gabe Bell who was our standout bowler last season, and Ben McDermott coming back into the group … so while we love sending players off to play for Australia, we feel as though we've got reasonable depth as well."

How can I watch?

Every game will be streamed live and available worldwide (excluding India and New Zealand) on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app, and also available in Australia on Kayo Sports. Cricket fans in India can watch the One-Day Cup on Fancode, while matches available on Sky NZ in New Zealand.

Can I attend?

You sure can! If you live in Queensland, Tasmania or South Australia, it's free entry for all One-Day Cup matches. The same goes for NSW home games, all of which are at Cricket Central, just remember to bring your folding chair or picnic rug for a more comfortable experience.

At Junction Oval in Melbourne, tickets are available for purchase at Gate 2 on Lakeside Drive, and for matches at the MCG get them from Gate 2 on match day. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $7 for concession, $5 for Under-18s and $20 for a family, however it's free entry for MCC, Renegades and Stars members upon presentation of a membership card at either venue.

Western Australia home games at the WACA Ground will set you back $17 for an adult ticket, $11 for concession and $6 for juniors.

What are they playing for?

Introduced two seasons ago following a public vote, the winners of men's domestic one-day tournament are now awarded the Dean Jones Trophy.

Who was Dean Jones? Well, the Unplayable Podcast went into depth on the man behind the trophy, which you can listen to below.

Jones played 52 Tests (averaging 46.55 with the bat) and 164 ODIs (average of 44.61) and is considered by many as one of Australia's first great one-day players due to his dynamic batting, powerful running between wickets and X-factor ability to break a game open with a few cracks of his blade. He scored 2,122 One-Day Cup runs for Victoria at an average of 50.52 with a top score of 139 not out. Jones also captained the Vics to the 1994-95 one-day title.

The player of the final will be awarded the Michael Bevan Medal, a gong that was presented to Kurtis Patterson last season after his stirring half-century in the decider. Bevan dominated the domestic scene for his entire career, including many one-day finals.

Who are the players to watch?

Lance Morris (WA): With any luck, we'll see Western Australia's speedster Lance Morris back in the One-Day Cup for the first time since February 2025. The tearaway missed all of last summer after undergoing back surgery but is back bowling at full tilt and will be crucial in WA's plans to rise up the standings. Morris has an excellent record in 50-over cricket (which includes three ODIs) with 22 wickets at an average of 24. He'll sit out WA's first two games with a side strain, but fingers crossed it's not long until we see him back on the field.

Lachlan Shaw (NSW): The newly appointed NSW one-day captain will take charge of the reigning champions of the competition. With only 11 One-Day Cup matches under his belt, the 23-year-old has been elevated to the top job with new coach Brad Haddin saying NSW "needed to have a look at a few different options for our leadership". The right-hander batted at No.4 and No.5 last season and expect his role to be similar with an ability to clear the rope with ease in the closing overs.

Hugh Weibgen (Queensland): The former Under-19 World Cup-winning skipper announced himself for the Bulls last season with a brilliant hundred in just his second game to guide them home against WA chasing 322. New coach James Hopes indicated the rising star could be in line for top-order opportunities this season following the retirement of Usman Khawaja and Matt Renshaw's elevation to all-format international, with Weibgen to no doubt benefit from an extended run in the side.

Nathan McSweeney (South Australia): It's been a winter to remember for the South Australian skipper as he churned out bulk runs (1,550) for Northamptonshire in county cricket under the mentorship of former Aussie coach Darren Lehmann. A whopping 485 of those runs came in the English one-day cup competition where he averaged almost 70 in eight innings with six half-centuries. McSweeney said Lehmann encouraged him to "fire a few shots back", so keep an eye out for a slightly more up-tempo approach from the stylish right-hander when he returns from Australia A's tour of India in October.

Teague Wyllie (Tasmania): The Tigers' big recruit of the off-season lands from Western Australia on a one-year deal and with plenty to play for. Still only 22 years old, former Australia U19 representative Wyllie had struggled to play regularly for WA in either format across the past few seasons. However, last season the right-handed batter made his One-Day Cup debut and batted twice, scoring 56 and 42no in two promising performances. He has already hit multiple centuries this preseason and now has one of Tassie's top-order spots for the taking.

Austin Anlezark (Victoria): Injuries and representative selection have hit Victoria's bowling stocks ahead of the season and young right-arm quick Austin Anlezark may be one who reaps the rewards. The towering 21-year-old made his one-day debut at the start of last summer, playing five games for the season and taking five wickets. He impressed for a Victorian T20 side in the Top End during the winter and is among the state's next wave of pace talent itching for an opportunity.

Last season's standouts

Defending champions: New South Wales (defeated Tasmania by four wickets)

 

Michael Bevan Medallist: Kurtis Patterson (New South Wales)

 

Player of the season: Marnus Labuschagne (Queensland)

 

Top run-scorers: 565 Kurtis Patterson (NSW), 468 Marnus Labuschagne (QLD), 431 Joel Curtis (WA)

 

Top wicket-takers: 19 Tanveer Sangha (NSW), 15 Bryce Jackson (WA), 15 Mitch Swepson (QLD)

 

Most dismissals: 13 Joel Curtis (WA), 12 Jimmy Peirson (QLD), 9 Josh Philippe (NSW), 9 Sam Harper (VIC)

Last season's standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	No results N/R	Net Run Rate NRR	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Total points PTS
1 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	7	5	2	0	0	0.33	0	2	22
2 NSW Men NSW	7	4	3	0	0	0.765	0	3	19
3 Queensland Bulls QLD	7	4	3	0	0	0.607	0	2	18
4 Western Australia Men WA	7	4	3	0	0	0.127	0.5	2	17.5
5 South Australia Men SA	7	2	5	0	0	-0.911	0	2	10
6 Victoria Men VIC	7	2	5	0	0	-0.916	0	0	8

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

N/R: No results

NRR: Net Run Rate

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

PTS: Total points

How else can I follow?

If you're not able to attend or watch live, or you just want to relive all the action, you can get all the live scores, news, interviews and highlights on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app.

You can also catch a replay of every wicket in the match centre on the CA Live app, which can be downloaded here.

How does the points system work?

Teams get four points for a win, two points for either a tie, no result or abandoned match and zero points for a loss.

However, an extra point is on offer for teams that win big. Any team (batting first) that achieves victory with a run rate 1.25 times that of the opposition, or if victory is achieved by the end of the 40th over or 80 per cent of the number of overs in a reduced overs match (batting second), a bonus point will be awarded. There is no double bonus point on offer.

The teams that finish first and second on the points table at the completion of all preliminary matches will qualify for the final on February 14. The team with the higher net run-rate will determine ladder positions if teams finish level on points.