Jake Lehmann joined Tom Morris after winning the Sheffield Shield Final - The New Ball (31.03.26)

0:00Jake Lehman, what has been to you? Yeah, it's pretty amazing. You know, to win the one last year was like a massive monkey off our back and for all the South Australians and families and people that have supported us along the way. That was massive and then, you know, we probably had a little bit of a harder year as a group in terms of losing a few players to higher honours and few injuries along the way. So we really had to scrap through the season and I feel like the back end of the year probably started to play the best cricket we could have at the right time and then we knew coming home who is always going to be a hard task. They're a quality outfit. They won seven games in the year for a reason. But we just scrapped, you know, and I feel like as a group we've done really well at that all year and when the pressure came on, you know, we knew what to do. We kept it simple and to beat Victoria and Victoria is an amazing feeling, especially as a true South Australian. So yeah, it was awesome.

1:00But to have the support from all our families and friends over here, it kind of felt like there was a bit of love for us along the way. So that's also been a massive factor and that's something. You've seen an all-in-south Australian cricket, like it's been down the shoulders for a while. You've wanted back-to-back shield titles. What does it mean for the state? Yeah, well, I don't think it's ever been done before from my recollection. So to do something last year, to win the shield in the one day, which has never been done in the same year and now to go back-to-back in the shield, which no one else has ever done in the history of South Australian cricket, it's something special and I'll definitely hold it close to my heart and look back and the days to come eventually and say, like, it's massive privilege to be a part of and just thank you to Sarka for probably sticking with me and getting through those hard times. And if it wasn't for those hard times, we probably wouldn't be here either. So, you know, you've got to grow as a group and grow as a team and grow as an organisation, I think we have done that. Last one. When you're right at the game this morning, what do you think the odds were?

2:01Like, do you think you're a favourite? Do you think you're a odds on? How did you assess the situation of the game with the VIX 5 down? This morning, I thought we were a red-out chance. I thought that the ball was nipping around. They sent two nightwatchers and I felt we were going to get them out quite fast. So, I knew that it was going to be 7 down and I think all the pegs are a great young cricketer. But, you know, the pressure of a massive shield final and the ball nipping around it's going to leave a lot to Fergus and Chief to do and it probably played out that way. So, yeah, I had full belief this morning that we were going to get the job done. He asked me that on the morning of day four when we were sitting in the chain rooms. You know, there was a lot of thoughts and the other way, I think. So, that partnership between Cairns and Matthew McCanger was just something else. That's match-to-fawning and that's what we expect of our players these days. Awesome. Thanks for your time. No worries.