The 1895–96 Sheffield Shield season marked the fourth edition of the Australian first-class cricket competition. Three teams participated in the tournament, engaging in a double round-robin format to determine the championship winner. Over the course of the season, a total of six matches took place across the country.
New South Wales emerged as the winners, securing the state's first title in the competition's history. The team's performance was bolstered by standout individual displays throughout the matches. Frank Iredale led the batting charts, accumulating 469 runs during the season.
Tom McKibbin proved equally vital for the champions, taking 31 wickets to top the bowling charts for the tournament. The six matches featured varying strategies, with captains frequently deciding whether to bat or field first after winning the toss at the start of play.
| 9–13 November 1895 Scorecard |
| Victoria | v | South Australia (home team) |
| 220 (74.2 overs)Harry Graham 50Ernie Jones 3/51 (21.2 overs) | 163 (58.3 overs)Clem Hill 60Jack Harry 4/15 (7 overs) | |
| 329 (99.5 overs)Jack Harry 107George Giffen 5/141 (41.5 overs) | 320 (77.5 overs)Fred Jarvis 68John Carlton 3/39 (10.5 overs) |
| Victoria won by 66 runsAdelaide Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Bob Crockett and George Downs |
| 26–31 December 1895 Scorecard |
| (home team) New South Wales | v | Victoria |
| 407 (202.2 overs)Harry Donnan 160Albert Trott 5/77 (35 overs) | 357 (135.3 overs)Harry Graham 103Tom McKibbin 4/157 (52 overs) | |
| 331 (142.2 overs)Tom Garrett 70Albert Trott 4/94 (39.2 overs) | 258 (98.3 overs)William Bruce 90Tom McKibbin 8/93 (39.3 overs) |
| New South Wales won by 123 runsMelbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Umpires: Jim Phillips and Jack Tooher |
| 3–6 January 1896 Scorecard |
| New South Wales | v | South Australia (home team) |
| 320 (117.5 overs)Harry Donnan 93Ernie Jones 7/103 (43 overs) | 152 (60.3 overs)George Giffen 74Tom McKibbin 4/61 (23 overs) | |
| 134 f/o (44.1 overs)Joe Darling 33Bill Howell 5/49 (22.1 overs) |
| New South Wales won by an innings and 34 runsAdelaide Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Isaac Fisher and Jack Tooher |
| 25–30 January 1896 Scorecard |
| (home team) New South Wales | v | Victoria |
| 187 (96.3 overs)Frank Iredale 56Hugh Trumble 5/61 (43 overs) | 319 (133 overs)Charlie McLeod 100Tom McKibbin 4/114 (35 overs) | |
| 335 (138.1 overs)Alick Mackenzie 97Jack Harry 4/53 (21 overs) | 6/207 (70.2 overs)Charlie McLeod 50Tom McKibbin 3/85 (22.2 overs) |
| Victoria won by 4 wicketsSydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Umpires: Jim Phillips and Jack Tooher |
| 21–24 February 1896 Scorecard |
| (home team) Victoria | v | South Australia |
| 165 (36 overs)Frank Laver 50George Giffen 4/94 (17 overs) | 199 (79 overs)Jack Reedman 60John Carlton 4/44 (26 overs) | |
| 43 (23.4 overs)Harry Trott 13Ernie Jones 6/15 (12 overs) | 0/10 (3.5 overs)Ernie Jones 7* |
| South Australia won by 10 wicketsMelbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Umpires: Bob Crockett and T. A. Reeves |
| 28 February – 4 March 1896 Scorecard |
| (home team) South Australia | v | New South Wales |
| 400 (130.2 overs)Clem Hill 206*Tom McKibbin 3/124 (42 overs) | 428 (135.2 overs)Frank Iredale 187Ernie Jones 4/110 (47 overs) | |
| 200 (106.3 overs)George Giffen 55Charles Turner 6/35 (43.3 overs) | 1/173 (75.4 overs)Frank Iredale 80* |
| New South Wales won by 9 wicketsSydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Umpires: Jack Tooher and T. A. Reeves |
Squad lists and statistics via Wikipedia