Tiger forced to sit out key clash due to a state border controls he’s not playing against – or in

Arguably Australia’s fastest bowler Riley Meredith will sit on the sidelines for Tasmania against the Vics in Melbourne – because of Western Australia’s strict border controls.

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A FIT and firing Riley Meredith has been forced to sit out the clash with Victoria due to Western Australia’s border controls – a state he won’t be playing in or against.

Following Wednesday’s Marsh Cup game at St Kilda, the Vics play the Warriors in Perth on March 23, and WA border restrictions means anyone who has been in contact with someone from overseas must quarantine.

For the greater good of the competition, Meredith — who was of the highlights of Australia’s unsuccessful T20 tour of New Zealand — has been forced out of the clash.

Australia's Riley Meredith celebrates New Zealand's captain Kane Williamson being caught with LBW during the fifth Twenty20 cricket match between New Zealand and Australia in Wellington on March 7, 2021. (Photo by Marty MELVILLE / AFP)

Victorian duo Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell will also miss for the same reasons, why the Tigers were unable to select Ben McDermott (hamstring) and Matthew Wade (load management) even if they were available.

Tigers coach Jeff Vaughan said having the trio unavailable was all part of a long season.

“The world we live in at the moment, people being on the road, quarantine, injury, performance, there is always going to be guys in and out of teams,” Vaughan said.

The Tigers are yet to record a victory in either the Sheffield Shield (three losses and three draws) or Marsh Cup (one loss) but Vaughan said there would be no more emphasis placed on the one-day games against Victoria on Wednesday and South Australia on Friday with their Shield hopes dashed.

“We are very positive about the way we go about it, we just need to get on the right side of the result at some stage and hopefully that will come twice over the next couple of days,” he said.

Tigers squad: Tom Andrews, Jackson Bird, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, Caleb Jewell, Mitchell Owen, Tim Paine (c), Sam Rainbird, Peter Siddle, Jordan Silk, Charlie Wakim, Beau Webster, Mac Wright.

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