New South Wales Blues crumble to third-lowest Sheffield Shield total

Jackson Bird and Peter Siddle consigned New South Wales to its third-lowest Sheffield Shield total as Tasmania dominated in Adelaide.

Mitchell Starc of New South Wales.

Former Test seamers Jackson Bird and Peter Siddle consigned New South Wales to its third lowest Sheffield Shield total as the Tasmania Tigers dominated the opening day in Adelaide.

Bird (4/14) and Siddle (3/17) were unstoppable on a strip with true bounce and carry as the Blues were rolled for 64. Test spearhead Mitch Starc top scored with 18 in a 21-run stand with Sean Abbott (15) which highlighted a disappointing Blues effort.

NSW and Test spinner Nathan Lyon said his side’s capitulation had the hallmarks Nottingham’s 2015 Ashes Test when Australia folded for 60.

“It was a tough day against two experienced guys who have played a lot of Test cricket. It was a bit funny in the warm up I said to Mitch Starc it had a similar feeling to Trent Bridge 2015,” Lyon said.

Jackson Bird of the Tasmanian Tigers.

The Tigers (4/149) take an 85-run first innings lead into day two after Australian one-day paceman Sean Abbott removed key duo Matt Wade (10) and Ben McDermott (18).

Jordan Silk (64) and nightwatchman Siddle (4) resume on day two where Starc (1-48) will be finetuning for battle against Virat Kohli’s India.

“We have seen if there is anything in this wicket it is in the first couple of hours so that is why we won the toss and bowled but we didn’t see that happening,” said Bird.

“It was a great team bowling performance. There was a bit more bounce, swing and seam and we got the ball in the right area. It was a great effort from our guys.”

Originally published as New South Wales Blues crumble to third-lowest Sheffield Shield total