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I’ll start the day’s review in Sydney. As all Roarers will be aware by now, the sickening events that preceded tea involving Australian Test hopeful Phil Hughes marred this clash.
The game was abandoned, first for the day after an early tea was taken due to Hughes’ injury and lengthy spell of treatment, but later the decision was made to abandon the rest of the match as well.
In what was a simple accident, a bouncer from NSW quick Sean Abbott snuck under Hughes helmet, striking him on the back of the head and rendering him unconscious. He was taken from the field by cart, accompanied by friend and former opening partner David Warner.
Australian captain Michael Clarke later visited Hughes at St Vincent’s hospital, where his situation was described as critical while in intensive care awaiting surgery, the results of which may not be known for up to 48 hours.
All the thoughts of the cricketing community are with Hughes, as evidenced by an outpouring of support on Twitter from players and fans around the world.
The match situation seems somewhat irrelevant after such an injury, and as such I won’t discuss it here.
Despite this horrendous event, cricket continued in the other two games being played around the country. If you want a review of the days play in these games, please continue reading.
If you’d rather not worry about things as insignificant as cricket at the moment, by all means stop.
Queensland (1-73) v Tasmania (217 all out)
Allan Border Field
On a belter of a day, in front of a healthy crowd at the picturesque Allan Border Field, Queensland built on last week’s exciting win over New South Wales at the Gabba by bowling out Tasmania for 217 after an exceptional bowling performance led by captain James Hopes.
Ryan Harris was named in the Bulls side, hoping to gain more match fitness after being named in the Australia squad ahead of next week’s first Test, while Usman Khawaja returned in the only change to the side after a fractured little finger sustained in the one day competition last month.
For Tasmania, George Bailey and James Faulkner returned from Australia ODI duty, Bailey to captain the side. Jackson Bird and Xavier Doherty were also named for the Tigers.
Harris was given first tilt with the new ball after Bailey won the toss and chose to bat in perfect conditions, however his opening spell of five overs 0-15 was overshadowed by an exceptional performance by his new-ball partner Hopes. With innings figures of 4-14 off 20 overs, including a remarkable 13 maidens at an economy of 0.70, Hopes was key to the pressure Queensland applied to the Tasmanian batsmen, strangling them for scoring shots.
I spoke with Bulls coach Stuart Law, who was full of praise for his captain at the innings break, labelling him “the genuine quality article”.
A couple of Tasmania batsmen suggested that the tough rate of scoring was a direct result of the quality of Queensland’s bowling as opposed to a particularly lively pitch, and Hopes was at the heart of that quality, building pressure with maidens and an exceptionally tight line.
Law agreed, saying that they were trying to make the traditionally flat, batsman-friendly pitch at Allan Border Field a little closer in character to that of the Gabba, and as such left a little bit of grass on it for this game. This meant that good bowling was rewarded, and bad balls could be hit for four, “just like a proper cricket pitch should be like”. Hopes was rewarded with excellent figures, because as the coach said, “he didn’t bowl many bad ones today”.
Even by his own miserly standards Hopes started economically, with opening spell figures of 1-3 off seven overs, including five maidens and the wicket of Ed Cowan (2).
The pressure continued with Hopes, Ben Cutting and Luke Feldman combining for a sensational spell of eight consecutive maidens. Despite Tasmania looking at a loss as to how to attack the bowling, it took a classy, one-handed diving stop from Khawaja, showing no signs of rustiness in the field after his injury, to maintain the pressure.
Cutting was bowling an excellent line early, with vicious intent. His first spell opened with four straight maidens and included hitting Jordan Silk hard on the extreme upper thigh, forcing a mid-over drinks break during which the opener spent time composing himself on his knees.
Alex Doolan broke the shackles of maidens with an excellent cover drive for four off Feldman, but the Queensland quick made amends for ending the run of maidens. Enticing edges from Silk (16), Doolan (12) and Bird (0), with Faulkner (35) clean bowled, ending with 4-69.
Cameron Boyce (1-32) and Cutting (1-46) took the deserved wickets of Sam Rainbird (13) and Andrew Fekete (20) as Tasmania were bowled out inside 80 overs for 217.
Harris, named yesterday in the Test squad, did not look comfortable and struggled to exert the same pressure on the Tasmanian batsmen as his fellow seamers. As happened on occasion last week, Harris struggled a little with his line, but bowled fairly well without much luck, ending with figures of 0-51. Anyone who saw his second innings effort last week would back him to improve in the second innings here.
After the innings break Queensland faced a potentially difficult 15 overs, but made a mockery of Tasmania’s first innings troubles as Joe Burns (29*) and Khawaja (31) scored at almost a run a ball to end the day on 1-73.
The Bulls batsmen took particularly kindly to the bowling of Jackson Bird, who was slogged for nearly seven runs per over in his five-over spell.
Victoria v Western Australia (5-287)
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Finally, at the MCG, Western Australia recovered from a tough start to end the day on 5-287, after falling to 3-39 early in the morning session.
This eagerly anticipated match pitched the second placed Bushrangers against competition pacesetting Warriors. Victoria welcomed back Glen Maxwell, Aaron Finch – playing his 100th game for Victoria – squad captain Matthew Wade and Scott Boland, who replaced Peter Siddle, Jon Holland, David Hussey and Marcus Stoinis. Western Australia won the toss and opted to bat in overcast conditions.
WA recovered from 3-39 in the morning session to reach lunch at 3-78, Hastings and Fawad Ahmed doing the damage early for the home side. Cameron Bancroft and Shaun Marsh then steadied the ship and settled in to their innings, securing a partnership of 244 before Bancroft departed for 132 off a mammoth 305 balls.
Marsh bought up his 155-ball century in the most flamboyant of ways, with three successive 6s off Fahwad Ahmed, boosting his own chances of selection to replace injured Michael Clarke in Brisbane.
He ended the day unbeaten on 134, with brother Mitch not out on 2 alongside him. Ahmed (2-93) and Hastings (2-34) took two wickets apiece, while Tremain (1-56) took the vital wicket of Bancroft for the Bushrangers.
The Marsh brothers will look to set the Bushrangers a large total when play resumes tomorrow.
I’ll end this review by sending my best wishes to Phil Hughes and I’m sure all Roarers will join me in wishing him a speedy recovery. My thoughts are with all involved, particularly his family and teammates.
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