The Sheffield Shield returns

Loading ... The Sheffield Shield commenced in the 1892-93 season with New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria competing. Queensland entered the competition in 1926-27, Western Australia in 1947-48 and Tasmania in 1977-78. There have been 106 seasons when the Sheffield Shield was played, with no competition during the World Wars. New South Wales have won 45 times, while Tasmania won their first title in 2006-07. Twenty-three venues have hosted Sheffield Shield games with the Adelaide Oval, which hosted the first game in 1892, hosting the most - 367. In 1982-83 the first Sheffield Shield final was played. The team finishing on top of the table at the end of the preliminary rounds was allowed to host the final at a venue of its choice. The WACA has hosted the most finals, eight. New South Wales have appeared in 12 finals, winning the title nine times - three on neutral venues. Jamie Cox, the Tasmanian opening batsman, has appeared in the most number of games, 161. In 1999-2000, the domestic first-class interstate competition was called the Pura Milk Cup, and the Pura Cup from 2000-01 to 2007-08. Facts courtesy Cricket Australia Factfile

Australia's first-class competition is to be called the Sheffield Shield once more after new sponsors Weet-Bix chose to restore the popular name of the competition. The tournament has been known as the Pura Cup since 1999, but in a move which will please the purists, Weet-Bix agreed that the Sheffield Shield could resume the name it had borne for 107 years.

It promises to be a popular move, with many fans unhappy that the traditional name had been replaced with a sponsor's for nearly a decade. Many have still referred to it as "the shield" throughout this period.

The five-year deal with Weet-Bix was announced by Cricket Australia at a breakfast meeting at the MCG. "Cricket Australia is passionate about bringing back the history and tradition of the Sheffield Shield and we are appreciative of Weet-Bix for giving us the opportunity to do this," James Sutherland, Cricket Australia's chief executive, said. "This interstate first-class competition is most certainly the foundation upon which our number one ranked Australian Test team has been built.

"I look forward to watching with interest the new breed of Australian players rising through the ranks by playing the Sheffield Shield presented by Weet-Bix." Brett Lee, a Weet-Bix ambassador, was also present.

Former Australia players Steve Waugh and Stuart MacGill welcomed the move. "I know it was disappointing when the competition was no longer called the Sheffield Shield because there was a lot of history attached to it and, even though Pura were great sponsors over the years, it's nice to have the Shield back,'' Waugh told the Daily Telegraph.

"There are still a lot of people who recognise the Sheffield Shield and it's great to have that bit of tradition in cricket. It will be nice for the younger players to learn about the history and why it's called the Shield and about the domestic teams.''

Stuart MacGill was part of the New South Wales that won the Pura Cup in 2007-08, and he admitted the different trophies created a bit of confusion in dressing room when it came to the tradition of outlining the trophy on the walls. "Some of us wanted to draw the shape of the Sheffield Shield while some of the others wanted to draw an outline of the Pura Cup," he said. "I think in the end we didn't decide on anything and left it.

"I think it was a fairly predictable thing [the name change] but a cool thing and I'm glad they've done it,'' he said. "The strength of the competition is the competition, not the trophy we're playing for, and things won't change from that point of view. But I think cricket is evolving on the field and there is still a lot of history off the field so it's important we recognise that.''

Cricket Australia had been searching for a sponsor since March, when speculation began that the competition would revert to its old name unless another sponsor signed. In the end, CA appear to have found a perfect solution - a sponsor who is happy not to stamp their own mark over history.