Usman Khawaja and Josh Hazlewood in Sheffield Shield duel
Australian star Josh Hazlewood has returned to red-ball cricket in an intriguing battle against Queensland’s seasoned openers.
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Forgotten Test centurion Kurtis Patterson fell agonisingly short of a comeback hundred as Josh Hazlewood made his red-ball return for New South Wales against Queensland on Friday.
Hazlewood went head-to-head with Test teammate Usman Khawaja in the final session at Cricket Central, but the veteran opener and partner Matt Renshaw survived his five-over spell to reach 0-36 in reply to NSW’s 239.
Patterson, 31, earnt a selection reprieve after Sam Konstas was called into the Australia A side, and cashed in against an inexperienced Bulls attack missing its three first-choice fast bowlers.
As wickets tumbled around him, the left-hander steadily built an innings before joining Jack Edwards (88) to steer the Blues out of trouble from 5-59.
Patterson, who scored a century against Sri Lanka in the second of his two Tests in 2019 and averages 144 in the format, looked destined for a timely ton before he flashed at a delivery from part-time offspinner Angus Lovell and was out caught behind.
NSW opener Nic Maddinson had raced to 10 from his first five balls before teenage quick Tom Straker (3-69) snuck a full pitched delivery between his bat and pad.
Queensland debutant Benji Floros, who bore a striking resemblance to his older brother, former Bulls all-rounder Jason Floros, claimed his maiden first-class wicket with a bouncer that Matthew Gilkes tickled behind to keeper Jimmy Peirson.
Victorian veteran Peter Siddle was steaming as South Australia got off the mark in bizarre fashion after the home side was sent in to bat at the Adelaide Oval.
Named for a Shield return just three weeks shy of his 40th birthday, Siddle was given the new ball against the Redbacks and sent down a probing first over – only it leaked five runs.
South Australian opener Connor McInerney shouldered arms to a seaming delivery and the ball appeared to deflect off the back of his bat before rolling into keeper Sam Harper’s helmet behind the stumps.
The Redbacks batters took off for a single, but were sent back by the umpire after helmet strike automatically incurred a five-run penalty.
'I don't think I've seen that in my career.'
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 1, 2024
South Australia got off the mark with penalty runs off the helmet!#SheffieldShieldpic.twitter.com/PeSxbEbjxd
Siddle slapped his thigh in frustration, but he need not have worried – the penalty runs did not go to his figures.
He picked up 3-44 and took a catch at deep backward square to help Mitch Perry claim the vital wicket of Alex Carey for 44.
Carey, the acting Redbacks skipper, and opener Henry Hunt (62) put on 69 for the fourth wicket, but it was the only significant partnership for the home side as Victoria kept the clamps on to leave them 8-273 at stumps.
Left-arm spinner Doug Warren, playing in the absence of Australia A spinner Todd Murphy, claimed 2-63 from 20 overs and had Hunt out caught at first slip.
NZ spinner Mitchell Santner last week showed the value of left-arm orthodox bowlers in subcontinental conditions, and the door could be ajar for a Test squad bolter on Australia’s February tour of Sri Lanka given Matt Kuhnemann’s uninspiring form since switching to Tasmania.
Ashton Agar might also press his case after taking advantage of the Australia A series to make a red-ball comeback for Western Australia.
In a bowling attack again missing cautiously managed speedsters Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris, Agar was not brought on against Tasmania until the over before the tea break, but shouldered the load in the final session to return a tidy 0-35 from 15 overs.
Left-arm quick Joel Paris claimed three wickets including opener Caleb Jewell for 61 as rain stopped play late on the first day with Tasmania 5-263.
All-rounder Mitch Owen was unbeaten on 62 off 72 balls after coming in at No. 7.
Originally published as Usman Khawaja and Josh Hazlewood in Sheffield Shield duel
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