Will Pucovski makes Shield return as Jack Edwards explodes for NSW

Will Pucovski made a solid start in his return to state cricket but it was a young all-rounder who turned heads in the Sheffield Shield.

Prodigious batting talent Will Pucovski has impressed in his first game back for Victoria, making 39 on the first day of the clash against WA in Perth.

Playing first-class cricket for the first time in 12 months after a string of concussion and mental health setbacks, Pucovski opened the batting and began fluently along with Travis Dean against a second-string WA attack at the WACA.

He successfully navigated a challenging spell from debutant left-arm quick Liam Haskett before the lunch break, but fell shortly after the interval, playing all around a full delivery at off-stump from Aaron Hardie after an 108-run opening stand.

Hardie, who got his first taste of international cricket on Australia’s limited overs tour of South Africa last month, quickly followed with the wicket of Campbell Kellaway in his next over to claim 2-21 from 11 overs.

Will Pucovski on his way to 39 from 68 balls on his Sheffield Shield return for Victoria. Picture: Paul Kane / Getty Images

Dean and Peter Handscomb put on 54 before Haskett claimed his maiden first-class wicket, bowling Dean for 87.

Victoria went to tea at 3-187 after being sent in by Warriors captain Sam Whiteman.

Unheralded NSW seamer Jack Edwards has shocked Queensland’s top order with the first five wickets on Day 1 of their clash at Sydney Olympic Park.

Edwards, a middle-order bat whose medium-pacers have generally been used as a part-time option, was thrown the ball with Queensland cruising at 0-56 before he up-ended the Bulls’ morning, bowling Matt Renshaw with a low-bouncing delivery and finding the outside edge of Joe Burns for a duck two balls later.

NSW teammates celebrate with Jack Edwards (third from right) after one of his five wickets on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield match against Queensland at Sydney Olympic Park. Picture: Matt King / Getty Images

In little more than an hour he had a maiden first-class five-wicket haul, bowling Bryce Street and Jack Clayton before he claimed the crucial wicket of Queensland captain Usman Khawaja, who was caught behind for 30 to leave his side 5-107.

It was a continuation of Edwards’ impressive all-round form, with the 23-year-old beginning the domestic season with 2-24 and 92 opening the batting for NSW in the Marsh Cup before he claimed another two wickets last week against Victoria.

He hit just his second first-class century in the final Sheffield Shield game last season, belting 21 boundaries to make 138 at No. 8 against South Australia in Adelaide.

Young SA fast bowler Jordan Buckingham starred with 7-71 as the Redbacks fought back against Tasmania, but their resistance was short-lived. Picture: Mark Brake / Getty Images

Queensland went to stumps at 7-159 on a rain affected opening day, with Edwards claiming 5-24 from 11 overs.

Tasmania moved into a dominant position on the second day of its match against South Australia, with 32-year-old Charlie Wakim hitting his second first-class century in a big partnership with the in-form Caleb Jewell (87) to register 381 in response to SA’s 307.

Highly rated SA quick Jordan Buckingham claimed career best figures of 7-71 from 23 overs to will the Redbacks back into the game, but their resistance crumbled before stumps with Gabe Bell and Lawrence Neil-Smith tearing through the home side’s top order to leave them reeling at 3-10.