Western Australia’s red ball captain Sam Whiteman notches his 100th Sheffield Shield appearance in the clash with Queensland, starting tomorrow at the WACA Ground.
Celebrating A Century Of Shield Matches For Our Captain
To mark the occasion, we’ve looked back on five of Whiteman’s standout performances across his 99 matches to date – and believe us, it wasn’t easy!
123 (338) The Final vs Victoria in Perth 31 March – 4 April 2022
Much like the 2024 final, the 2022 final saw WA inserted to bat and stand-in captain Whiteman delivered. With WA only needing a draw to claim the title, Whiteman and Bancroft’s 188-run opening stand in the first 57 overs of the game ensured Victorian victory would be the least likely of three outcomes in the game. While Whiteman’s 85 in the first innings was critical, it was his 123 off 338 balls in the second innings that landed the decisive blow on the visitors. With the game on a knife’s edge at 5-110 in WA’s second innings, a lead of 190, Whiteman and Aaron Hardie settled the ship with a 174-run partnership over the ensuing 65 overs and put a Victorian win out of the question.
104 (154) The Final vs Tasmania in Perth 21-24 March 2024
It was only fitting Whiteman – promoted that season to WA’s full-time red-ball captain – would play a starring role in securing WA’s famous Shield three-peat. After being sent into bat, Whiteman and makeshift opening partner D’Arcy Short put together a watchful 110-run partnership to get the side off to a flying start in the 2023-24 Sheffield Shield final. Whiteman’s 104 off 154 balls, alongside Cooper Connolly’s 90, ensured his side would post a formidable first innings total of 347 and control the game from that point on.
114 (242) vs New South Wales in Adelaide, 19-22 October 2020
After spending 141 overs in the field, Whiteman led the way in response to New South Wales 6-443d. Whiteman’s full array of shots was on display in the near six-hour knock. He took full toll whenever the New South Wales attack, which included Test spinner Nathan Lyon, missed their mark in his patient 114 off 242 balls. Whiteman was well supported by then 21-year-old Cameron Green, with whom he shared a 173-run third wicket partnership to guide WA out of early danger at 2-71.
193 (394) vs South Australia in Perth, 11-14 November 2022
One of the toughest aspects of playing WA through its Sheffield Shield three-peat was finding a way through the opening partnership of Whiteman and Cameron Bancroft, as South Australia found out on this occasion. The visitors compiled a competitive total of 299, only to have Whiteman and Bancroft put on an opening stand of 308, WA’s 11th highest partnership in Shield history. Whiteman would go on to make 193 of WA’s 444, which helped set up an innings victory.
188 (383) vs Tasmania in Perth, 15-18 October 2023
After another long stint in the field, where the visitors posted an imposing first innings total of 435, it was again Whiteman and Bancroft who led WA’s response. The pair put on 227 to set up WA’s reply of 8-574d. Whiteman would go on to make 188 on an uncharacteristically placid WACA Ground pitch in a player of the match performance. Adding to the merit of Whiteman’s 383-ball knock was his ability to steady the innings alongside Aaron Hardie, after the hosts lost a further two wickets in the seven overs after Bancroft’s departure.