South Australia poised to break 29-year Sheffield Shield drought after strong start to season

South Australia's cricket team is hoping to end its long slump in first-class cricket. After the international break, the team is currently at the top of the Sheffield Shield cricket league standings, giving them hope of ending a 29-year title drought.

The team has four more games to play, giving them the opportunity to break the championship drought since the 1995/96 season. Back then, Australian internationals such as Jason Gillespie, Greg Blewett and Darren Lehmann were members of the championship team. Since then, South Australia has finished at the bottom of the Sheffield Shield competition 15 times, including five times in the past eight seasons.

Acting captain Ben Manenti said the team is eager to bring glory back to South Australia. "One of the reasons I came to South Australia was to try and turn things around, help the team win games and move in the right direction. We're doing that now, and have been doing that for the last few years," he said. "We've had a tough period over the last six or seven years and it feels like we're climbing and heading north."

Coach Ryan Harris said his team doesn't feel the pressure from the title drought, but he knows how important breaking that record is to South Australia. "I've always tried to make sure we represent South Australia really well," he said. "Even if you're not from here, you have to respect where you are and respect the organisation and what they want, and we want to win trophies."

However, Harris did not celebrate victory prematurely, as there are still four games to play this season. While South Australia is currently at the top of the standings, all teams still have a chance to finish first or last. "It's exciting to be able to stand here and talk about a possible final, but there's still a lot to do and we have to make sure we can get there," Harris said.

South Australia jumped to the top of the standings after a last-ball win against Tasmania in December. Tasmania needed four runs off the final ball in Hobart, but Riley Meredith was run out as the visitors won the game by a run while chasing an unlikely two. Four of the final nine balls were boundaries, paving the way for arguably the most intense Sheffield Shield victory ever in terms of runs.

"We had some games that were close and didn't go our way, so it's good to win one back... it puts us in a good position on the ladder," Harris said. "It was definitely one of the best games ever." Manenti said: "The cricket gods gave us a chance, Tasmania made a small mistake and we were lucky enough to get six points." "That put us top at Christmas, which I don't think we've been for a long time, so it's made the boys hungry for the second half of the year."

South Australia's change in fortune, after years of languishing in the bottom half of the standings, coincided with Ryan Harris' appointment as coach in August. Harris took over on an interim basis after Jason Gillespie was appointed coach of the Pakistan national cricket team at the end of last season. Manenti said Harris has energised the team. "We train and play with real purpose now," he said. "He follows every ball and is emotional, which is what we love about him... it's like he's still playing on the field."

There has also been a change in leadership in the playing ranks this season, with Nathan McSweeney being called up to the national team, which has allowed Manenti to take over as captain. Manenti said that while it has been a "different experience", he is "really enjoying it". "It's not something I thought I'd be doing when I first came here, it felt like it might be a long way off," Manenti said. "I feel like it's bringing out the best in my batting and bowling. As long as it does that, and I can help the team win and help push the players in the right direction, I think that's what we're after until Nathan comes back."

South Australia will next travel to Perth to face three-time defending champions Western Australia.