Former Test batsman Ed Cowan says he still has hopes of national selection as he signs on for another season with Tasmania.
The 32-year-old has been the Tigers’ only consistent batsman in recent Sheffield Shield matches and the team will look to him for a strong home ground performance against Queensland, starting Monday.
“We need some big runs from the top order, myself included,” Cowan said of the Bellerive Oval fixture.
And on a personal level, Cowan is still out to impress selectors.
“I still have desires to play Test cricket,” he told reporters on Sunday.
“Whether or not that ever happens again, I still think you need that fire in your belly.”
With four first-class centuries this season, the left-hander is a clear standout for Tassie among a batting line-up that has repeatedly handed the heavy lifting to the middle and lower order.
Allrounder Jon Wells has been dropped for the clash with Queensland, replaced by young local Beau Webster – a move coach Dan Marsh said should stir up Tasmania.
“Beau comes into the team on the back of some really good form in club cricket,” Marsh said.
“We’re looking for a lift from that batting group and I’m very confident we’ll get that.”
Tasmania are coming off an innings-and-91-run loss to NSW last week.
“We haven’t hit the panic button,” Marsh said.
“We had a bad loss and we’re keen to rectify that this game.”
In contrast, lowly Queensland produced a thumping innings-and-13-run win in three days to beat Victoria last week.
The Bulls welcome back captain James Hopes, who missed the last round due to injury.
His return forces out Ben Cutting, while the side still boasts Chris Lynn, who posted 250 last match, and century-making wicketkeeper/batsman Chris Hartley.
Tasmanian squad: Alex Doolan (capt), Jordan Silk, Jackson Bird, Luke Butterworth, Ed Cowan, Ben Dunk, Andrew Fekete, Ben Hilfenhaus, Dominic Michael, Tim Paine, Sam Rainbird, Beau Webster.
Queensland squad: James Hopes (capt), Cameron Boyce, Joe Burns, Luke Feldman, Peter Forrest, Peter George, Chris Hartley, Charlie Hemphrey, Chris Lynn, Michael Phillipson, Simon Milenko, Mark Steketee.
Don Freo
Guest
Boland is quite a bit better than Hastings.
JohnB
Guest
Missing Pattinson and Hastings, so arguably a much lesser attack.
Bfc
Guest
Agree with the Usman Khawaja comment...he was really firing in all formats. Hope he gets back soon and scores the runs (a-la Matt Hayden...) that almost force the National selectors to pick him. Now if some of the younger guns (in the case of QLD...Burns, Lynn, Hartley..) can get a Tour spot that would be great for Oz cricket's future.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Stunning win by the boys again, to win by an innings when you only score 320 is a great win, Milenko is getting a run basically because we don't have that many FC level batsmen but he really got the job done today with the ball. I missed the last 5-6 wickets so I don't know how well he bowed. Hartley is batting 6 and with Forrest not getting many scores it seems we need some all rounders to fill in the gaps. Hopes again today saved the team with the bat and I assume he was named man of the match.
Don Freo
Guest
Liking this Milenko. Hammers the ball and has a very nice bowling action. Can't believe those who still think Silk is somewhere near the future of the Oz cricket team. Such a gap between bat and pad. Nothing in alignment. Of course he is going to miss as often as he does.
Rellum
Roar Guru
QLD pushing hard for an outright all ready .
Don Freo
Guest
Poor Eddy. Looks like an LBW from a right angle edge. An umpire's decision could cost Ed a tour of Windies or England. Mind you, his carry on might see him suspended for a game. Look at the replay on CA.
formeropenside
Guest
98 off 79 balls to Hopes coming in at number 8, turned the Qld innings around on a wet track from potentially a 50 run lead to a 150+ lead.
The Bush
Roar Guru
I'd like to see Silk get the runs on the board first. We've had enough guys selected on potential over the last few years; now that there's some competition lets make guys earn it with runs...
The Bush
Roar Guru
Yeah it'd be great to see Ussie find his old form at FC level. If that were to occur you'd have a lot of talent floating around the Shield - most from Queensland! It'll be an interesting few months post WC - does Clarke retire from ODI cricket and open up a spot for Lynn/Burns/Ussie to make a statement to the national selectors? Does S Marsh solidify a spot in both the Test and ODI team?
jameswm
Guest
Yeah I'd like to see Silk partnering Warner and Burns at 3 within 18 months, or possibly less. Silk hasn't scored a bunch of runs in the last year or so, but he strikes me as someone who can dig in, has a good temperament, can partner Warner well, and is of course a brilliant fielder. He just needs to have a big 2nd half of the Shield season, and he's started ok.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Burns looked great yesterday, very comfortable at the crease. Some of the shots he played just before he got out were glorious. The Bulls are really coming back into the season so maybe Law was the problem, or at least his relationship to the players. Cutting was dropped for this game and, if another batting option could be found, Forrest could go the same way. Usman's injury was a big loss for us. The right/left hand thing was debunked recently as having no real effect on the game so I say pick the best going.
The Bush
Roar Guru
68 from Burns at the top of the order for the Bulls. Whilst he did okay in his second Test down the order, he could still firm as one of teh favourites to replace Rogers after this Ashes as an opener. Cowan is obviously the form opener, but Burns is doing very well and being six years younger is certainly a great long term option. Plus there's nothing like a right/left opening combination... The real question is if Watto is dropped from the ODI side and M Marsh makes a real fist of this tournament you'd have to say that Watto's days as the all-rounder in the Test side are basically over. At that point we're back to first drop debate - do we go with newbies like Burns and Lynn, do we promote Smith to have a go or do we put S Marsh in there who has played in that spot before (without any success)?
formeropenside
Guest
That's the same Vic bowling attack that Qld put to the sword last week, right? A bunch of Australian reps?
Rellum
Roar Guru
Well our batsmen agree with you, none for 104 so far chasing 149. Great day for the mighty Maroons so far.
eee
Guest
wicket looks good to me
jameswm
Guest
NSW batting again, Henry out first ball of the innings to Siddle! Dunk managed 70-odd to take Tassie to 149. Qld now batting - big opportunity for Joey Burns. Ferguson just out for 33, Cossie out for 70-odd, SA now 3 for 186.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Bit of a green tinge to the Tassie deck but nothing terrible. Dunk is now going ballistic.
jameswm
Guest
Dougie got the hat trick...
jameswm
Guest
Vic did well to keep NSW to 206 - but are 8 for 108 themselves. Siddle and Ahmed probably the pick of the Vic bowlers, but wickets shared around. Where is Pattinson? Handscomb, Wade, Rogers all failed for Vic. Lyon 17 overs 3 for 38, including dismissing both openers, in the 5th and 13th overs of the innings. SOK 3 wickets in 16 overs. And Doug the rug 10 overs 2 for 12, o n a hat trick. Cowan confident, but Tassie batting first are 9 for 105. Confident Ed managed a 7-ball duck, whilst Silk at the other end hung around for an 80-ball 39m, getting out with the score on 63. Doolan also a duck, Butterworth a gozza. James Hopes just keeps on keeping on. Opens the bowling with his trundlers, and has 4 for 15 off 12 accurate overs. Steketee got Hilfy, then Rainbird and Bird in the last two balls - also o n a hat trick. Not a day for batsmen. Anything wrong with the decks? SA on the other hand are 1 for 129 against WA, with Ferguson on 11 and Cossie well set at 58.