... is the major trophy for domestic first–class cricket in Australia, contested between teams from the six states.
It was named after the 3rd Earl of Sheffield, who donated £150 to the New South Wales Cricket Association to fund a trophy for an annual cricket competition between the three colonies of Australia (New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia). Lord Sheffield was in Australia at the time to promote an English team led by W. G. Grace.
The competition was first contested in 1892–3 – some 15 years after Australia first played England in a Test match.
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