The 1897-98 Sheffield Shield marked the sixth season of Australian domestic first-class cricket. Three teams competed in a double round-robin format across a total of six matches. Victoria claimed the title, securing their third championship victory in the history of the competition.
Individual performances highlighted the season, with batters and bowlers from South Australia leading the statistics. Clem Hill topped the run-scoring charts, finishing the summer with 367 runs. Ernie Jones proved equally effective with the ball, claiming 33 wickets for South Australia throughout the tournament.
| 13–17 November 1897 Scorecard |
| Victoria | v | South Australia (home team) |
| 157 (65.4 overs)Sam McMichael 35*George Giffen 5/69 (32.4 overs) | 313 (123.1 overs)Fred Jarvis 92Mickey Roche 4/59 (29.1 overs) | |
| 237 (73.4 overs)Monty Noble 69Arthur Evans 3/59 (20 overs) | 1/78 (30 overs)Alby Green 33*James Giller 1/8 (5 overs) |
| South Australia won by 9 wicketsAdelaide Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Bob Crockett and George Downs |
| 27–30 December 1897 Scorecard |
| (home team) Victoria | v | New South Wales |
| 320 (130 overs)Harry Graham 53Tom McKibbin 4/108 (42 overs) | 263 (115.3 overs)Alick Mackenzie 88Harry Trott 44/4 (24.3 overs) | |
| 184 (80.4 overs)Harry Trott 92Tom McKibbin 4/79 (32 overs) | 92 (72 overs)Syd Gregory 17Mickey Roche 5/51 (37 overs) |
| Victoria won by 149 runsMelbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Umpires: Bob Crockett and Jack Tooher |
| 8–12 January 1898 Scorecard |
| New South Wales | v | South Australia (home team) |
| 228 (86.5 overs)J. J. Ferris 51Ernie Jones 5/54 (26.5 overs) | 139 (65.4 overs)George Giffen 49Bill Howell 5/60 (29 overs) | |
| 316 (109.4 overs)Harry Donnan 81Ernie Jones 6/71 (28 overs) | 189 (78.1 overs)Joe Darling 74Monty Noble 4/63 (29 overs) |
| New South Wales won by 216 runsAdelaide Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Jack Tooher and Philip Argall |
| 22–27 January 1898 Scorecard |
| (home team) New South Wales | v | Victoria |
| 273 (124 overs)Syd Gregory 72Mickey Roche 6/88 (32 overs) | 187 (50.3 overs)Jack Worrall 103Andrew Newell 8/56 (19 overs) | |
| 90 (25.2 overs)Harry Donnan 19Harry Trott 5/21 (8 overs) | 7/179 (55 overs)William Bruce 37Tom McKibbin 4/64 (18 overs) |
| Victoria won by 3 wicketsSydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Umpires: Bob Crockett and Charles Bannerman |
| 11–15 February 1898 Scorecard |
| (home team) Victoria | v | South Australia |
| 428 (128.5 overs)Sam McMichael 97Arthur Evans 3/110 (28 overs) | 394 (104.1 overs)Clem Hill 135Hugh Trumble 3/120 (28 overs) | |
| 112 (40.4 overs)John Stuckey 28Ernie Jones 4/43 (15 overs) | 120 (60 overs)Fred Jarvis 31Mickey Roche 5/58 (29 overs) |
| Victoria won by 26 runsMelbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Umpires: Bob Crockett and George Downs |
| 18–22 February 1898 Scorecard |
| South Australia | v | New South Wales (home team) |
| 289 (88.5 overs)Joe Darling 75Monty Noble 4/95 (36 overs) | 310 (80.2 overs)Syd Gregory 83Ernie Jones 6/140 (35 overs) | |
| 442 (125 overs)Clem Hill 170Monty Noble 4/164 (42 overs) | 126 (37.5 overs)Monty Noble 38Ernie Jones 5/62 (19 overs) |
| South Australia won by 295 runsSydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Umpires: Charles Bannerman and George Downs |
Squad lists and statistics via Wikipedia