'A bit silly': Khawaja takes aim at Shield final rules

Usman Khawaja has taken aim at the recently-introduced rules in place for the Marsh Sheffield Shield final, with the Queensland captain labelling them a "bit silly" and suggesting the top-placed team no longer gets enough of an advantage.

In an attempt to liven up the maligned Shield final format that previously only required the first-placed team to draw the match to lift the silverware, Cricket Australia introduced new regulations for the 2018-19 final designed to discourage the home side preparing a flat pitch and batting slowly.

Both Khawaja and his New South Wales counterpart Kurtis Patterson agree there is only a slim chance this summer's decider will be a draw given the match is played over five days rather than four.

The new system has largely been received positively; NSW quick Mitchell Starc told cricket.com.au this week that he is a fan and the only final played under them (Victoria's 2019 win over NSW) was considered an entertaining spectacle.

But Khawaja, whose Bulls finished 1.66 points clear of the Blues on this season's standings, expressed strong reservations on match eve.

"I'm not a big proponent of (the new rules) because I think the advantage has gone for the team that comes first," Khawaja told reporters at Allan Border Field on Wednesday.

"You work hard all year to come first, there should be slightly more of an advantage. The team who gets more bonus points in the first innings potentially can win the game, which is a bit silly in my books.

"But I do think this is going to be a result game. (Over) five days, I think there's going to be a result. I said that to our guys, I don’t think it’s a big issue because I think there will be a winner in this game.

He added: “A team could come first by 15 points – they're clearly the best team in the competition, they should have a massive advantage. It shouldn't be even coming into the final.

"It's not like a BBL tournament – you're playing four days a time, it takes a lot to win a red-ball game. It takes a lot to get there."

The system used to decide a drawn final mirrors the bonus-point rules in place for the Shield's regular season. 

Sides get 0.1 of a point for each wicket taken inside the first 100 overs and 0.01 of a point for every run scored over 200 in the first 100 overs.

For example, if Queensland are bowled out for 300 in 90 overs in their first innings and NSW reply by making 250 all out in 80 overs, the Bulls will get two points, the Blues 1.5 points, and Queensland would be the winners if an outright result cannot be reached.

Patterson pointed out that Queensland still have the significant benefit of playing the final at their own venue and insisted the new system makes the match more appealing to fans.

"They earned the right to play at their home ground, that certainly helps," said Patterson when asked about Khawaja's comments. "They've played a lot more cricket here than we have.

"Trying to step outside the players' box and think about it from a fan's point of view, I think there's probably been a few dull Shield finals where the home team has batted for days on end.

"As a fan, that's probably not the most exciting thing to see. This makes both teams play positive cricket, like it does for the entire (regular season).

"Personally I don't mind it. Having said that … the chances are we'll get a result over five days.

"We set up our game plans to play four days throughout the year and to add 25 per cent more game time, I think that's going to make a result anyway."

Starc, speaking on The Unplayable Podcast earlier this week, was looking forward to seeing how the AB Field pitch will be prepared given the changed regulations.

The last Shield final at AB Field, in 2018, was won by Queensland after the entire first day was washed out and their opponents, Tasmania, then had to declare generously in a bid to force a result.

The pitch had a green tinge to it on Wednesday, with grassy patches dotting a surface that is usually batter-friendly but generally produces a result. Only one of the last four games at the venue has finished in a draw. 

"It could be interesting to see what they do with the wicket up there based on the fact that bonus points matter," Starc said.

"(AB Field) can be one of two things; could be a little bit in it early and be a few little divots that harden up, which plays into the fast bowlers' hands. Likewise, it can be pretty flat at times.

"It's five-day cricket, it's April as well so that could be interesting."

2021 Marsh Sheffield Shield final

Queensland v NSW Blues at Allan Border Field in Brisbane, April 15-19. Play begins each morning at 9.30am AEST

Queensland squad: Usman Khawaja (c), Xavier Bartlett, Joe Burns, Brendan Doggett, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Bryce Street, Mitchell Swepson, Jack Wildermuth

NSW squad: Sean Abbott, Harry Conway, Trent Copeland, Jack Edwards, Matthew Gilkes, Josh Hazlewood, Lachlan Hearne, Baxter Holt, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Peter Nevill, Kurtis Patterson, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Mitchell Starc

The 2021 Marsh Sheffield Shield final will be broadcast LIVE in Australia on Fox Cricket & Kayo Sports. ABC Grandstand's live radio coverage will also be available on cricket.com.au & the CA Live app