Day two of the Sheffield Shield season was for the batsmen, echoing the thoughts and worries of many that we are going to see another summer of roads.
Following on from Marcus Harris’ hundred at the MCG on day one, there were a number of hundreds at the Gabba and in Perth.
At the Gabba, Joe Burns produced a chanceless century against NSW’s near Test-strength bowling attack, driving and pulling with confidence.
Usman Khawaja also made a decent 79, but the standout batsman for Queensland was Marnus Labuschagne.
Labuschagne looked completely comfortable at the crease against returning fast bowler Mitch Starc, who was getting the ball to go both ways at times. He and Burns put together a wonderful partnership to pull the Bulls back into the game.
The caveat to the good batting is that, even though the pitch had a tinge of green in it – mostly near the edges – the bounce was true and there was little seam movement.
Thus again, we have been presented with a pitch that provides little for the bowlers.
However, as the lights started to illuminate the iconic ground, batting became difficult. It seems the twilight period is where the wickets fall.
Queensland all-rounder Jason Floros does not look up to first-class standard batting at number six. He was completely lost against a fantastic outswinger from Starc that hit him on the pads and would have struck off stump.
Though Queensland are looking for a replacement for James Hopes, I can’t see Floros being that player. Nathan Reardon would have been a better option at six.
Peter Forrest is another who must be on borrowed time. Every chance he has been given in the last season or so he has not performed. Once Matt Renshaw, Sam Heazlett and Chris Lynn come back, I can’t see Forrest remaining in the mix.
Chris Hartley got what seemed to be a line-ball call, being deemed to have edged a bouncer through to Peter Nevill.
After that, to mirror the first day, Michael Neser and Labuschagne scored quick runs to pass NSW’s first innings total of 327.
With Labuschagne unbeaten on 85 and the Bulls at 6/330, the declaration came.
The Bulls were hoping to get some quick wickets in the late session. However, they did not manage to get any, as David Warner tee’d off to get NSW to 0/51 at stumps, giving the Blues a 48-run lead.
I am not sure letting NSW build a second-innings lead is the way I would play it. The Bulls must believe the conditions won’t change much over the next two days, and must have the confidence they will be able to chase down the runs.
In the other games
Victoria 415 vs Tasmainia 4/93
The Bushrangers piled on the runs in a rain-affected day, with Cameron White and Matthew Wade notching half-centuries before Tasmania finally earned a chance to reply.
During the night session, the ball was nipping around off the seam, with plenty of plays and misses to Victorian pace trio Peter Siddle, Scott Boland and Chris Tremain. The Tigers eventually struggled to 4/93.
Western Australia 9/271d vs South Australia 8/474
There were more runs in Perth as South Australia went big, with hundreds to Callum Ferguson and Tom Cooper. Travis Head brought back the national team’s philosophy and attacked to get 66 of 61, but chased a wide one with a wild drive and edged to slip.
SA are doing the right thing and pushing on to build a big lead, and leaving WA in real trouble.
Jason Behrendorff was the standout with the ball for the Warriors, snaring 3/70.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
It seems franchise cricket has forgotten about the great battle between bat and ball. In fact, this season in the IPL there is no battle at all.
The mammoth rise of Jake Fraser-McGurk - his enormous potential and the destructive shot-making that he possesses makes him a very tempting option.
Marcus Stoinis produced his first IPL century and it was a beauty. He went 6, 4, 4, 4 to finish off the Lucknow Super…
Xavier Bartlett has been permission to extend his cricketing education with a spell of T20s in England, playing in the Blast competition for Kent…
Three-Test spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has signed with Tasmania in a bid for red-ball game time ahead of Australia's tour of Sri Lanka next summer.…
Last week, you read about the Matt XI, a compilation of the best cricketers ever to represent the name Matt. And to be fair,…
