Match: Victoria vs Tasmania, 8th Match, Sheffield Shield 2025-26
Venue: Junction Oval (CitiPower Centre), Melbourne
Date: Tuesday, October 28 – Friday, October 31, 2025
Start Time: 10:30 AM AEDT
Broadcast: Live on Kayo Sports & cricket.com.au
Toss: Not yet conducted
Current Form & Standings
Victoria are sitting pretty at the top of the Sheffield Shield table with two wins from two games. They started strong with a four-wicket win against South Australia, then followed it up by beating New South Wales by 38 runs. Captain Will Sutherland’s team is playing with confidence and looking to stay unbeaten.
Tasmania are not far behind. The Tigers have one win and one draw from their opening two matches. After a drawn game against Queensland, they bounced back with an exciting three-run victory over Western Australia in their last match. They’ll be hungry to upset the table leaders on their home ground.
Team News & Likely Playing XIs
Victoria – Confirmed Squad (Source: cricket.com.au)
Victoria have made one change for Round 3. Scott Boland has been rested as Cricket Australia manages his workload ahead of the Ashes series.
13-Player Squad: Will Sutherland (c), Sam Elliott, Harry Dixon, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Sam Harper, Campbell Kellaway, Blake Macdonald, David Moody, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Oliver Peake, Mitch Perry
Likely XI:
- Marcus Harris
- Peter Handscomb
- Sam Harper
- Campbell Kellaway
- Blake Macdonald
- Will Sutherland (c)
- Harry Dixon
- Todd Murphy
- Sam Elliott / Mitch Perry
- David Moody
- Fergus O’Neill
Note: Final XI will be confirmed at the toss.
Tasmania – Confirmed Squad (Source: cricket.com.au & Cricket Tasmania)
Big news for Tasmania — Test allrounder Beau Webster returns from an ankle injury and is fully fit to bat and bowl. Ruwantha Kellapotha has been added after his One Day Cup debut last week.
13-Player Squad: Jordan Silk (c), Gabe Bell, Jackson Bird, Nikhil Chaudhary, Jake Doran, Kieran Elliott, Bradley Hope, Caleb Jewell, Ruwantha Kellapotha, Riley Meredith, Tim Ward, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
Likely XI (Source: Sportscafe.in):
- Jake Weatherald
- Tim Ward
- Caleb Jewell
- Jordan Silk (c)
- Bradley Hope
- Beau Webster
- Jake Doran (wk)
- Nikhil Chaudhary
- Jackson Bird
- Gabe Bell
- Riley Meredith
Note: Some sources suggest Nivethan Radhakrishnan may feature instead of Kellapotha. Final XI to be confirmed.
Players to Watch
| Batters | Team | Why Watch Them |
|---|---|---|
| Peter Handscomb | Victoria | Experienced batsman in good form; scored a century in Round 1 against South Australia |
| Jake Weatherald | Tasmania | Last season’s leading run-scorer; scored 94 runs in Tasmania’s recent win over WA |
| Marcus Harris | Victoria | Veteran opener who spent the off-season playing for Lancashire in England |
| Beau Webster | Tasmania | Test allrounder returns from injury; adds strength with both bat and ball |
| Bowlers | Team | Why Watch Them |
|---|---|---|
| Todd Murphy | Victoria | Off-spinner in excellent form; took crucial top-order wickets against NSW in Round 2 |
| Jackson Bird | Tasmania | Experienced pace bowler; took 2-54 in last match and knows how to trouble batters |
| Riley Meredith | Tasmania | Express pace bowler; grabbed 3-41 in Tasmania’s thrilling win over Western Australia |
| Fergus O’Neill | Victoria | Young pace bowler gaining valuable experience in the first-class format |
Pitch & Weather Report
Pitch Conditions: The Junction Oval in Melbourne is known as a batting-friendly surface, especially as the match goes on. However, fast bowlers can expect some help early in the game with the new ball. Teams winning the toss may prefer to bowl first and use those early conditions.
Weather Forecast (Day 1): Sunny with temperatures around 17°C (63°F). Expect a cold breeze throughout the first day of play. (Source: Sportscafe.in)
Head-to-Head Record
Tasmania have dominated this rivalry recently. In the last five meetings between these two sides, Tasmania have won three matches while two games ended as draws. Victoria will be eager to register their first win against Tasmania in six attempts.
This makes the match even more interesting — can the table-toppers break their losing streak against the Tigers, or will Tasmania continue their winning ways?
What to Expect
This match promises to be a close contest between two in-form teams. Victoria have home advantage and are full of confidence after two straight wins. Their bowling attack, led by Todd Murphy’s spin and a strong pace unit, has been impressive.
Tasmania bring their own firepower with the return of Beau Webster adding balance to their side. Their pace trio of Bird, Bell, and Meredith can trouble any batting lineup on a helpful pitch.
The Junction Oval pitch should offer something for everyone — batters can score big if they stick around, while bowlers who hit the right lengths will get rewards. The team that adapts better to conditions and handles pressure moments will likely come out on top.
Prediction: Victoria start as slight favorites due to home advantage and their perfect record so far. However, Tasmania’s recent head-to-head dominance and Webster’s return make this a 50-50 contest. Expect a competitive four-day battle with the result possibly going down to the final day.
How to Watch
Live Streaming: cricket.com.au, CA Live app, Kayo Sports
TV Broadcast: Fox Cricket (selected coverage)
Entry: Free for spectators at Junction Oval