The Junction Oval in Melbourne is set to host one of the most anticipated clashes of the early Sheffield Shield season as Victoria welcome New South Wales for the 4th Test, beginning Wednesday, October 15th, 2025. With both sides coming off morale-boosting victories, the stakes are high—not just for domestic bragging rights, but for several players with Ashes ambitions on the line. The scene is perfectly set: clear Melbourne skies, a surface promising a fair contest between bat and ball, and two squads brimming with talent and experience.
Victoria, led by the steady Peter Handscomb, arrive with their tails up after a gritty four-wicket win over South Australia in Adelaide. The Vics showed their mettle, chasing down 231 on a tricky Day 4 wicket, thanks largely to an unbeaten 70 from Oliver Peake and a composed knock from Fergus O’Neill. Their squad boasts a blend of seasoned campaigners and young guns: Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, and Blake MacDonald form a top order that can grind or accelerate as needed. Handscomb, fresh off a century in the opener, anchors the middle. The return of captain Will Sutherland, Harry Dixon, and spinner Todd Murphy from Australia A duty only strengthens the home side’s hand. Murphy, last year’s Shield Player of the Year, steps in for Doug Warren, despite Warren’s match-winning seven-wicket haul in the opener—a testament to Victoria’s enviable depth.
In the bowling department, Victoria are formidable. Scott Boland, a Test regular and Ashes hopeful, leads the pace attack, ably supported by O’Neill and David Moody. The addition of Sutherland’s seam and Murphy’s spin gives Handscomb plenty of options. Boland’s contest with New South Wales opener Sam Konstas carries extra intrigue, with selectors watching closely—Konstas has fallen to Boland four times in first-class cricket, and both men are vying for Ashes squad berths with only weeks until the squad is announced. The Vics’ probable XI reads: Harry Dixon, Campbell Kellaway, Marcus Harris, Peter Handscomb (c), Oliver Peake, Sam Harper (wk), Will Sutherland, Fergus O’Neill, Todd Murphy, Scott Boland, and David Moody.
New South Wales, meanwhile, travel south with a point to prove and a potent bowling attack of their own. Their season opener saw them dismantle Western Australia by 74 runs, a performance built on the relentless pace of Ryan Hadley and Liam Hatcher—who claimed eight and six wickets respectively—and the cunning of Nathan Lyon, who resumes his role as both captain and lead spinner. Lyon’s leadership has been a stabilizing force for NSW, and his ability to exploit late turn at the Junction Oval could be decisive. The Blues’ probable XI includes Blake Nikitaras, Sam Konstas, Kurtis Patterson, Matthew Gilkes (wk), Oliver Davies, Jack Edwards (returning from Australia A), Will Salzmann, Sean Abbott (also pushing for Ashes selection), Charlie Stobo, Nathan Lyon (c), and Ryan Hadley.
While the New South Wales bowling unit looks capable of taking 20 wickets on any surface, their batting has been less convincing. The top order—Nikitaras, Konstas, and Patterson—must shoulder more responsibility after a modest 170 in their first innings against WA. Middle-order resilience from William Salzmann and Matthew Gilkes helped steady the ship, and lower-order grit from Chris Green, Salzmann, and Lyon in the second dig set up the win. With Sean Abbott and Jack Edwards returning, the Blues hope to bolster both their batting and bowling depth.
Head-to-head, these two sides are the most decorated in Sheffield Shield history. Victoria have played 917 matches, notching up 356 wins, while New South Wales have 386 wins in 921 outings. Their rivalry is as old as Australian cricket itself, and recent years have seen Victoria hold a slight edge—winning 13 of the last 15 encounters over the past decade. However, it was NSW who prevailed the last time these teams met, bowling Victoria out for 154 in the fourth innings to seal a 76-run win in Sydney. Melbourne, though, has been a fortress for the Vics, with seven wins to one for NSW over the last ten years at home.
There’s more than just points on the line. With the Ashes opener looming on November 21st in Perth, this Shield fixture serves as a final audition for several Test hopefuls. Scott Boland, Todd Murphy, Sam Konstas, and Sean Abbott are all under the selectors’ microscope. Boland, in particular, is seen as a ready-made replacement for Pat Cummins, who is confirmed to miss the start of the Ashes. Konstas, the incumbent opener, needs runs to retain his spot after a lean tour of the Caribbean and a quiet start to the Shield season. According to Sportscafe, "Sam Konstas is the incumbent Australian opener alongside Usman Khawaja but will need strong Sheffield Shield showings to retain his spot." The pressure is on, and performances in this match could tip the balance for a coveted Test berth.
The Junction Oval pitch is expected to offer a balanced contest. Traditionally a good batting surface, it has produced some green tops in recent times to encourage results. No captain has opted to bat first after winning the toss here since February 2023, reflecting a trend toward exploiting early seam movement. Batters who see off the new ball can cash in, but bowlers—particularly the likes of Boland, Hadley, and Lyon—will fancy their chances if conditions suit. First-innings totals in the 280–320 range are likely, and with both teams boasting deep bowling attacks, a result seems probable.
Weather-wise, Melbourne is set to deliver perfect cricketing conditions. A sunny spring morning awaits, with temperatures hovering in the late teens to low 20s Celsius, and not a drop of rain expected across the four days. A gentle breeze may offer some assistance to the seamers early on, but otherwise, fans can look forward to uninterrupted action throughout the match.
Broadcasting will be handled digitally by Fancode, available both in India and Australia, with Fox Cricket providing TV coverage locally. The match starts at 5:00 AM IST, so early risers and cricket tragics alike will have plenty to savor as the drama unfolds at the Junction Oval.
Fantasy cricket enthusiasts have plenty to ponder. Peter Handscomb and Nathan Lyon are top captain choices, with Matthew Gilkes and Ryan Hadley strong vice-captain options. The advice? Build a balanced team, give weight to bowlers from both sides, and don’t overlook the value of in-form wicketkeepers like Gilkes. As for players to avoid, Sam Konstas and Blake Nikitaras have struggled for consistency lately.
With both teams desperate to maintain early-season momentum, the 4th Test between Victoria and New South Wales promises high-quality cricket, individual battles with national implications, and the kind of edge-of-your-seat action that makes the Sheffield Shield the heartbeat of Australian cricket. As the sun rises over the Junction Oval, all eyes will be on the players vying not just for victory, but for a place in Ashes history. The action is about to begin, and with so much on the line, every session could swing the contest—and a few Test careers—one way or the other.
