Sheffield Shield Sheffield Shield The Sheffield Shield is the domestic first-class cricket competition of Australia. The tournament is contested between teams from the six states of Australia. Prior to the Shield being established, a number of intercolonial matches were played. The Shield, donated by Lord Sheffield, was first contested during the 1892–93 season, between New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. Queensland was admitted for the 1926–27 season, Western Australia for the 1947–48 season and Tasmania for the 1977–78 season. The competition is contested in a double-round robin format, with each team playing every other team twice, i.e. home and away. Points
Sheffield & District Football League winners, Wednesday Wanderers and Mexborough, meeting in a play-off to decide the title winners, with the Mexburians winning the game 1-0 at Oakwell. The 1894/95 competition was again split in two, with the six strongest teams being placed into the top division, with the winners Mexborough being awarded the Wharncliffe Charity Cup. Below the top division that year, there was a shield competition for another nine sides, with Eckington Works beating Wath in a play-off final. The league was disbanded in the summer of 1896, with the Sheffield Association League effectively taking its place. Sheffield & District Football League The