Tim Ward backs Tasmania to bounce back against Western Australia

A Tasmanian cricket star hasn’t minced his words describing his side’s loss to NSW as “criminal” but he remains confident of bouncing back. Here’s why.

Tasmanian opening batsman Tim Ward has left a scathing review on what he feels his side needs to improve on before it hosts Sheffield Shield ladder-leaders Western Australia on Tuesday.

Despite coming away from the match against New South Wales with a draw, the Tigers disappointingly gave the Blues a 181-run first innings lead after being dismissed for just 236.

Only three players managed 20 or more, one of those being number 10 Nathan Ellis.

“It was pretty disappointing, a few of the shots there,” Ward said.

“We know we’re better than that and we knew it was going to be a low, slow wicket.

“Chop-ons and lbw’s and all that is criminal, so it was tough, slow and a grind, but we didn’t really play our best … it was pretty disappointing.”

It was a tough outing at the SCG. Photo: Jason McCawley/Getty Images.

Sitting fifth on the Shield ladder as a consequence of just two wins, Ward says the Tigers are yet to put together a ‘good match’ yet.

“I think it’ll be a completely different game with the wicket and the bowling attacks,” he said of the upcoming encounter with WA.

“We will try and play freely, play our way and hopefully put together four good days of cricket.

“At the moment we are pretty far from that, I think the whole season we haven’t put together a good match yet, so hopefully this week we can aim to do that.”

Although Western Australia enters the match with strong form, Ward is confident if his side can make immediate improvements to last week’s performance.

And the Tigers are set to be boosted by the returns of Jake Doran and Riley Meredith, who have both been added to the 13-man squad.

“I think we are all good enough as a batting unit that we can take on those challenges,” he said.

“Hopefully the wicket is flat, we can get in, bat big and knock them over with the ball.”

Tom Andrews has been omitted from the side that drew with NSW while Billy Stanlake (injury) and Matthew Wade (PSL commitments) remain unavailable for selection.

Tasmanian squad: Jackson Bird, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, Jarrod Freeman, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meridith, Tim Paine, Peter Siddle, Jordan Silk (captain), Tim Ward, Charlie Wakim, Beau Webster.