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The day after Andrew McDonald strengthened his case for a South African trip, Victorian cricket team-mate Bryce McGain also showed impeccable timing.
As Australian selector Merv Hughes watched, McGain took 5-104 from 28 overs on the final day of the Sheffield Shield match against South Australia at the MCG.
McGain was pivotal as the Bushrangers won by 25 runs, putting them 12 points clear at the top of the Shield table.
This was McGain’s comeback match after October shoulder surgery and he took no wickets in the first innings.
But his strong bowling performance on Monday, combined with Australia’s thin spin-bowling stocks, mean McGain will feature prominently when the selectors meet next Wednesday to pick the South African squad.
On Sunday, McDonald had a six-wicket haul in SA’s first innings to also stake his claim.
“It’s good to be back out there, playing first-class cricket,” McGain said.
“I just felt like I could control the ball, I could spin it as hard as I wanted to and put it where I wanted.
“It’s a great feeling to be able to do that – I guess in the games leading up, maybe I was pushing them a little bit and I just went for broke.”
Victoria declared in the first hour of play on Monday at 6-262, setting SA a realistic target of 315 from 88 overs.
After a poor start, the Redbacks kept challenging, even after losing Michael Klinger for 59.
Klinger was filthy after he attempted a wild slog off McGain and was bowled.
He has now scored 1011 for the season at 91.9.
While surprise Australian one-day selection Callum Ferguson was batting, SA remained a chance and he combined with Matthew Weeks for an eighth-wicket stand of 43.
SA had reached 269 after tea when Weeks lofted McGain to deep mid-wicket, where paceman Dirk Nannes took a stunning catch on the run.
McGain and Ferguson agreed it was the body blow that sunk SA’s hopes of an upset win.
“Before that, I’ve seen him ‘grass’ ones at training that have been hit straight to him on the belly button,” McGain said of Nannes.
“It was extraordinary and it was a moment in the game that turned it suddenly – they were shocked.”
Ferguson was out four runs later for 115 and SA were eventually dismissed for 289.
Victoria retained the David Hookes Trophy for matches between the two states and McGain said the coach, who died five years ago, remained a strong influence on the Bushrangers.
“He’s driven us a lot and we’re still carrying a lot of the messages that he’s taught us, we play in that way,” McGain said.
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