State of the States: South Australia

Bupa Sheffield Shield

Three outright wins before Christmas, coupled with three scores in the nineties from young gun Travis Head, had the West End Redbacks looking good for their first Sheffield Shield final in 18 years.

But indifferent form against Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales left South Australia needing an outright win over Tasmania in the final round to secure a place in the decider.

What eventuated was one of the biggest losses in Sheffield Shield history, the Redbacks going down to the Tigers by an innings and 316 runs on the back of an Evan Gulbis double ton.

Despite the disappointing end to the season, the outstanding form of Tom Cooper with the bat, as well as Chad Sayers and skipper Johan Botha with the ball, has the perennial cellar-dwellers eyeing a drought-breaking 2014/15 Sheffield Shield season.

Leading run-scorer: Tom Cooper – 881 runs @ 51.82

Leading wicket-taker: Chadd Sayers – 36 wickets @ 28.06

Bupa SS player of the year: Callum Ferguson

Neil Dansie Medal (MVP): Tom Cooper

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Ryobi Cup

Historically a superior one-day side South Australia battled throughout the 2013 edition of the Ryobi Cup, winning just the one game against fellow cellar-dwellers Western Australia to wind up in last place.

Michael Klinger and Tom Cooperboth tallied plenty of runs for Botha’s men, but it was penetration with the ball that hurt South Australia most, Joe Mennie the Redbacks’ best with nine scalps.

The departure of Klinger to Western Australia will leave plenty of work to do for newly acquired Mark Cosgrove at the top of the order.

Leading run-scorer: Michael Klinger – 380 runs @ 76.00

Leading wicket-taker: Joe Mennie – 9 wickets @ 27.67

Ryobi Cup player of the year: Tom Cooper

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BBL 03

Big wins over the Sydney Thunder and the Perth Scorchers once again had the Adelaide Strikers playing the part of tournament surprise packets early thanks largely to Botha’s economy rate of 5.50 and big runs from veteran Klinger. But those two wins would prove their only one for the season, the Strikers losing their last four games to finish in seventh position.

Leading run-scorer: Michael Klinger – 223 runs @ 44.60 | SR: 121.85

Leading wicket-taker: Shaun Tait – 11 wickets @ 21.90 | Econ: 8.92

Adelaide Strikers player of the year: Michael Neser

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SA Scorpions

The Scorpions were a much improved unit this season, finishing just one win away from a top-four finish and finals berth in the T20 format and in fourth spot in the 50-over game.

Leading from the front, Lauren Ebsary complied 384 runs in 12 T20 matches at an average of 48; her form earning selection in the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars’ tour match against England in an Ashes warm-up in early January. Opening bowler Megan Schutt retained her Australian contract and was a member of the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad that narrowly missed out on regaining the Women’s Ashes.

The season also marked the end of an era for experienced duo Neisha Iles and Alicia Dean who announced their retirement from domestic cricket.

SA Scorpions player of the year: Lauren Ebsary

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Imparja Cup

It was a tough tournament for the boys in red, South Australia picking up just the one win across six matches to finish in sixth place. Big 17-year-old quick Luke Lavender made an impact however, picking up eight wickets at an average of 15.75 to earn himself a place in the team of the tournament.

The Southern Boomerangs fielded a young team at this year’s Imparja Cup, and showed steady improvement throughout to reaffirm their chances for next year’s competition.

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Grade Cricket

The inaugural West End Premier League kicked off with The Eastern Edge taking out the overall competition and the PNG Digicel Barramundis winning the Twenty20 Cup.

The Tea Tree Gully Bulls made it three titles in a row in both the West End One Day Cup and West End Twenty20 Cup while Port Adelaide Cricket Club ended a 40-year drought, moving from last to first, to beat Tea Tree Gully in the West End A-Grade final.

Beth Morganled Kensington District Cricket Club into the Women’s A-Grade final before claiming their first ever One-Day title.