Australian Test selection: Spots on the line in Sheffield Shield Rd 2

Usman Khawaja’s hopes of fighting his way back into the Test team have suffered another jolt as Queensland’s Sheffield Shield batting blues continued at the Gabba.

Robert Craddock

less than 2 min read

October 18, 2019 - 8:41PM

Usman Khawaja

Swing bowler Michael Neser (5-56) did splendidly to subdue South Australia for 221 with a mesmerising early control but the day turned sour for Queensland (3-70) when their top order failed again after lively Wes Agar (3-6 from seven overs) madea stunning first class debut.

Matt Renshaw (18) fell to a one-handed leg-side snare by Alex Carey, Joe Burns (39) played across the line to be trapped infront while Khawaja suffered a similar fate when he was stuck on the crease again.

After being dropped in the Ashes Khawaja (two) needs big runs to convince the selectors he is worth another dice roll despite his impressive record on Australian soil but the Bulls have scored just one Shield century between them since the start of last summer and there has been no major early promise this season.

Stream every match of the Marsh One-Day Cup LIVE & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14-day free trial>

FOLLOW THE ACTION WITH OUR LIVE BLOG BELOW

Queensland Bulls players celebrate Travis Head's 25-ball duck. Picture: AAP

The selectors would not have enjoyed Khawaja’s dismissal because they will feel that it is a similar problem - limited feet movement - that haunted him in England.

Neser put the sleeper hold on South Australia with an impeccable new-ball performance, taking 3-6 from nine overs in the first session.

At one stage he had 3-0 off 41 balls and his performance came on the back of a tidy five wicket effort against NSW last round in which he dismissed David Warner and Steve Smith.

Neser did not play a Test on the recent Ashes tour but he has returned a wiser bowler.

“Watching how the big quicks went about it I took a couple of tips,’’ Neser said.

“And how they prepared for games too. They are very helpful. I definitely learnt a lot about bowling in the UK.

“We love bowling at the Gabba. We take pride that is is our home. We follow the leads of the quicks before us with peoplel ike Andy Bichel, Michael Kasprowicz, Mokka (Carl Rackemann) and even Lukey Feldman.’’

Updates

Young gun inspires Redbacks, Blues toil as Test incumbent fires up

Joe Barton

Our final update of the working day!

South Australia are holding on, and have somehow managed to scrape together a passable score thanks to the efforts of Tom Cooper and youngster Tom Andrews.

Andrews remains unbeaten on 66 as South Australia nudge past 200 – they're 8-204 after 64 overs.

In NSW, Tasmania are having no such trouble.

With Beau Webster joining Alex Doolan in making half-centuries at Drummoyne Oval, the Tigers are 4-229 – with Webster unbeaten on 57.

Meanwhile, in Perth, Marcus Harris has another century in his sights.

He's 63 not out and leading the Victorians, who are 1-101. Will Pucovski is alongside him, yet to score from 13 deliveries.

Stick around for match reports on all three Shield fixtures, which will feature on this page.

Lyon fires blanks as Tassie dominate

Joe Barton

After a brief flurry of wickets after lunch, Tasmania's runscoring has continued relatively untroubled.

Beau Webster has cruised to a half-century as Tasmania pass 200.

They're 3-205, with Webster on 50 and Ben McDermott on 27.

It's been a fruitless day for Test star Nathan Lyon (0-52), and his spin counterpart Steve O'Keefe (0-34).

Joe Barton

Update: the unstoppable run machines can be stopped.

Nic Maddinson falls for 37 to Matthew Kelly.

Will Pucovski the new batsman, with Victoria 1-79.

Victoria's unstoppable run machines

Joe Barton

Junction Oval, WACA… doesn't matter for Marcus Harris and Nic Maddinson.

They're piling up runs wherever they go.

Harris is doing a great job of reminding everyone why he was the leading runscorer in the Shield last summer – for which he was duly rewarded with a Test berth.

Harris is unbeaten on 36, with Maddinson on 35 following his double ton against South Australia last week.

Lunch is approaching and Victoria are 0-72.

Joe Barton

Tom Cooper's impressive knock comes to an end – he's out for 69, falling to that man again… Michael Neser.

The quick squeezes one between bat and pad and Cooper departs, ending the 89-run stand between him and Tom Andrews.

Andrews (33) is joined by Cameron Valente.

Neser now has 4-41.

Starc strikes to knock over Test teammate

Joe Barton

Mitchell Starc has struck at Drummoyne, and it's Ashes teammate Matthew Wade who is the victim.

Wade was a rare success story on the Ashes and looked to have cemented a middle order spot with a century in the fifth Test at the Oval – his second of the series.

He'd still be eager to get some runs under his belt ahead of selection however, and will be frustrated to have been knocked over for 20 by Starc.

Steve O'Keefe got in on the action, too, taking the catch at mid-off after a mistimed pull shot from Wade.

Joe Barton

Two of South Australia's last-game centurions are combining to salvage something from their first innings at the Gabba.

Tom Cooper is unbeaten on 32, with youngster Tom Andrew's on 18 not out.

They've dragged the Redbacks to 5-91 and they've even managed to blow Michael Neser's figures from 3-1 to 3-23!

Test hopeful struck down by injury blow

Joe Barton

Terrible news for one of the finds of the last Test summer, Kurtis Patterson.

Patterson was perhaps unfortunate to lose his Test spot after a breakout series against Sri Lanka last year, culminating in his debut Test century.

Runs in the first few Shield games might've put his name in contention for a spot at the Gabba – but injury has intervened at the first opportunity.

After missing last week's clash with Queensland, Patterson has re-aggravated a left quad injury.

He is receiving treatment on it and still hopes to bat when NSW is up, likely tomorrow, but it's a bad go for the Blues youngster.

Breaking: Kurtis Patterson has re-aggravated a left quad injury. He is still hoping to bat in this match for NSW against Tasmania. But his bid to reclaim his Test spot is facing a slow start @NewsCorpCricket @telegraph_sport
— Ben Horne (@BenHorne8) October 18, 2019

Joe Barton

A wicket at Drummoyne!

And it's Sean Abbott who makes the breakthrough, with Jordan Silk caught by Trent Copeland off his bowling.

Silk goes for 41 off 95.

Tassie still in a strong position shortly after lunch, they're 1-104 with Doolan unbeaten on 55.

45th minute: Australia 12 Tonga 10

Nick Campton

Victoria will bat first at the WACA after winning the toss – and they'll do so without Aaron Finch.

Finch and his troublesome back have been rested, while spinner Jon Holland has been omitted.

That gives Matt Short a shot alongside Glenn Maxwell in the middle order, while Harris, Maddinson, Pucovski and Handscomb make up the top four.

Teams:

Western Australia: Shaun Marsh (capt), Cameron Bancroft, Sam Whiteman, Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Josh Philippe, Josh Inglis, Ashton Agar, Jhye Richardson, Matthew Kelly, David Moody.

Victoria: Peter Handscomb (capt), Marcus Harris, Nic Maddinson, Will Pucovski, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Sam Harper, James Pattinson, Chris Tremain, Peter Siddle, Scott Boland.

Join the conversation

Australian Test selection: Spots on the line in Sheffield Shield Rd 2

Updates

Add your comment to this story