Seven centuries were scored across three games on the opening day of the Matador Barbeques one day domestic cup in Sydney yesterday in searing heat.
With runs flowing it would have made those who missed out on the tour to Bangladesh feel like they were playing on the sub-continent anyway.
While it was a day for the batsman to stand up and be counted, two sides struggled to post solid totals in their games which led to two very one sided victories. Queensland and the newly inducted Cricket Australia XI made up of some of the brightest young players in the country both failed to post solid scores.
The most incredible game of the day took place at Hurstville Oval. The Western Australian Warriors took on the South Australian Redbacks. Records would tumble right throughout the game as the Warriors won the toss and elected to bat first.
By the innings break it was looking like it might have been over. The Warriors managed to post 4/350, on the back of an awesome century to Cameron Bancroft. His 176 from just 155 balls was a Western Australia List A cricket record for most runs in an innings as he took it right to the South Australian bowling attack.
His opening partner, Shaun Marsh also passed a century, making 109 in a 216-run opening partnership.
Mitchell Marsh would be the best out of the middle order, making a quick fire 34 from 18 as they tried to up the tempo and run rate to the end of the innings. Tom Andrews was the best of the bowlers, taking 2/66 from 9 overs.
South Australia started aggressively, as they had to however were quickly staring down the barrel of a demoralising defeat. Losing two wickets in the first six over, and leaving them at 2/24 they looked to be in all sorts of trouble.
However, what happened next was simply amazing. Travis Head, who had been the rock through the first 10 overs, found another gear and in a partnership with Callum Ferguson down the other end quickly accelerated. The pair put on a monster 278 run stand from just 32.2 overs, burying Western Australia. Head would end up with 202 from 120 balls, Ferguson 112 from 118.
Joel Paris was the only bowler who was able to make some sort of impact, taking 3/63 from 9 overs. It was an incredible win for the Redbacks and could set the momentum for them throughout the rest of the tournament, with key batsmen looking to be in form. It was also the second highest run chase in the history of the one day domestic competition in Australia.
Moving onto a game where a recovery was made, but ultimately it was over by the 20th over of the first innings as the Queensland Bulls failed to make much of an impression against the Tasmanian Tigers.
North Sydney Oval was the scene as the Bulls slumped to 6/58 from just 19 overs. Nathan Reardon managed to hold the innings together for a brief period of time before a fightback was staged by the middle to lower order. Simon Milenko managed to top score with 40 as he and James Hopes (34) put on a 74 run partnership before Cameron Boyce (28) and Luke Feldman (33) made valuable lower order contributions, both at more than a run a ball.
Andrew Fekete, just one of the countless players who was suppose to be on the tour to Bangladesh was the pick of the bowlers taking 4/30, while he was backed up by Evan Gulbis who took 2/26 from his 7 overs.
Queensland would have been happy, considering where they were to end up with a score of 196 and would have been half backing themselves that it was enough to bowl at. However, the run chase from Tasmania was never really in doubt as they showed exactly how to bat on North Sydney Oval, reaching the total just one wicket down in 36 overs.
Ben Dunk was the man to bat right through the innings and was rewarded with a century, finishing 104 not out. Tim Paine managed to get to 39 and was the only man out to the bowling of Boyce. Dominic Michael was then able to grab him self a half century, not out in what was a comfortable victory for the Tigers.
Finally, the game everyone expected to end in a blowout. The New South Wales Blues, complete with 10 players who have at some point in their career represented Australia in one form or another, took out the youngsters in the Cricket Australia XI squad.
Winning the toss, New South Wales and Australia captain Steven Smith elected to bat which at least gave the solid crowd that had turned up for the match a chance to make a day of it. Nic Maddison and Steve Smith were the chief destroyers with the bat for the Blues as they each scored centuries and put on a 153-run stand for the second wicket.
When Maddison was dismissed for 108, Moises Henriques came to the crease and himself making 48 as he put on 100 runs with the Australian skipper. Smith meanwhile would finish the innings with a score of 143 from 122 balls.
The pick of the bowlers was Jack Wildermith who ended with 1/49 while it was a tough day for opening bowlers Liam Hatcher and Matthew Dixon who both ended with 0/86 from their 10 overs.
The run chase began and the Cricket Australia boys would have at least been hoping to mount some sought of fight, maybe bat close to all the overs out. However, Mitchell Starc had other ideas as he tore through the top order, taking 6/25 from 8.4 overs. As his team fell around him and ended up being all out for just 59, vice captain Alex Gregory stood strong and he ended 23 not out. None of his team mates made it to double figures.
Questions are already being asked about where the Cricket Australia XI team should be in the competition or not and while it is another debate for another article, you have to remember this Blues team would challenge international teams around the world.
The Blues, while they haven’t played any of the big gun teams look like they could be the ones to beat after the first day of action.
All in all a very interesting opening day of the domestic one day cup for 2015. The next match is on Wednesday as Victoria open their campaign and get to have a crack at the Cricket Australia XI team from Hurstville Oval.
What did you make of the opening day Roarers?
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
Don Freo
Guest
Lynn only played a handful of innings last year. One was a double century, one a half century. The other two were failures. Not a consistent season.
Andy Hill
Roar Pro
Craig Swanson at the start of this thread said he would get a baggy green this summer. Hence my initial comment. I would argue Lynn and Stoinis have been much more consistent over the past 12 months than Head. In Lynn's case, he just needs to stay fit. I am sure Head has great potential, but it is hard to argue that there aren't a bunch of guys ahead of him. We all like a bit of head, but let's not get too excited, it may not last too long.....
Don Freo
Guest
Lynn and Stoinis have done little more than Head. Have you wondered why SA selected him as captain ahead of Ferguson, Cooper and Ludemann? He has the goods. No one is saying he should play tests now.
Andy Hill
Roar Pro
Yep, and I must say that I do agree with Don that it is right to get excited about a young batsman making a double ton. I was very pleased for the young fella. But saying he should be considered for the test team is disrespecting other young blokes you have mentioned like Handscomb, Lynn, Stoinis and Burns who have all had at least one full first class season of consistently good performances and should therefore be ahead of Head when talking about possible inclusions in the test team. let's hope they all back it up this season and Head makes a case for inclusion in 2016/17 or after.
Bearfax
Guest
Shaun may be impressing at first class level Don but in tests he is averaging in the area where players like Hughes and Cowan were criticised and dropped. He's averaging on 33 and despite his good form elsewhere, in his 8 test innings in 2015, he averaged a little under 27...not good enough.
Bearfax
Guest
I take your point Andy Hill regarding young Head. Perhaps I was being a little too complementary but then I dont take much notice of hit and giggle games like List A when considering first class potential. ODIs I'll look at if there is also correlation in their first class performances, which seems to be happening with Head. Obviously his one day double century needs to be seen in context, but he's climbing up the first class averages bit by bit and at 21 years looks a promising prospect. This could be his break out season. I will be very interested in seven young batsmen in particular this Shield season, they being Bancroft, Silk, Hanscomb, Stoinis, Maddinson, Patterson and Head. I'm also hoping we'll see the very best from Khawaja, Maxwell, Burns and Lynn at last. And yes I'll be curious to see how young Doran copes with the big boys. I'm expecting an initial season average of about 30 and probably one century.
Andy Hill
Roar Pro
I'm not sure you could say Head was "one of the top performers" on the recent A tour. He played one first class game and scored 50 and 31. Not bad. He then played 5 List A games and scored 92 runs at an average of 23 and a top score of 45. Pretty typical of his career to date for SA and not banging the door down for selection.
Andy Hill
Roar Pro
Of course I know that Don. At his age, I would want to see him back that up with another solid season before considering him for test selection. Many an average shield bowler has had one good season and then tailed off and never made an impact again. If they are young and show potential, sure throw them in to give them a go. If they are 30ish, make them prove it wasn't just a purple patch.
Don Freo
Guest
Are you aware Fekete exceeded your prescribed numbers last season? I suspect you don't know that.
Andy Hill
Roar Pro
I will get excited if at the end of this summer, Head has averaged over 40 in the Shield and made a few tons, and Fekete has taken over 25 wickets at an average under or around 25. Then they can start to be talked about as Test potentials. Players need to show consistency as well as talent, or else we end up selecting them before they are ready, or selecting on "potential" rather than on merit. I took more notice of Ferguson's ton than Head's double, Ferguson has shown consistent form in both FC and List A for a couple of seasons now. If Faulkner hadn't been sent to the naughty corner during the winter, he definitely would have been picked ahead of Fekete in the original squad for Bangladesh, which puts him, Johnson, Starc, Hazlewood and Pattinson (assuming he return to form) ahead of the Fek. Oh, and Coulter Nile if/ when he is fit.
Don Freo
Guest
Whoops...what a leveller. Head goes first ball of the innings and Fergie goes the second ball he faces. Maddinson also went cheaply. I'll have to hope WA's 2 century makers show greater consistency...although a first baller is a great career move (ask Shaun).
Bearfax
Guest
yeh Don. I have been very surprised how quickly Head has progressed. I thought his selection to the Australia A matches on the sub continent may have been premature, but he was one of the top performers. His recent efforts are quite remarkable. He's suddenly swept up the list of potential test batsmen and is now a serious contender. Probably 2016-17 as you suggest but who can tell. Bancroft burst out of nowhere last year and has maintained the surge. There's a couple coming through who could very well be mid 40s averaging first class batsmen quite soon.and still in the mid 20s range in age
Don Freo
Guest
That doesn't mean people NEED to calm down. Excitement about perfornance is great. Fekete provides great depth. He is very quick and very accurate. He was chosen for Bangladesh on the basis of sustained performance. He is not top of the list but he is worth noticing. Head, similarly, is on the way through. Drawing attention to him is valid. Last two seasons we have seen a young man score 40s and 50s with shots all around the wicket. This year he starts with a 50 over double ton. That's progression. Next year...?
Andy Hill
Roar Pro
Good XI sideline. Burns does need to show some form in the coming weeks, or else he may well be overtaken by Bancroft. And people need to calm down and stop mentioning guys like Head and Fekete. Head just made his FIRST century in any format at state level, so he has a lot to prove before he is in contention for any Aus side. Fekete only made the Bangladesh test squad because Johnson and Hazlewood were rested, Cummins was injured and he showed good sub continent form on the A tour. With these guys coming back into the squad and Pattinson getting some form back recently, Fekete drops out of the reckoning.
Don Freo
Guest
I'm talking about Mitch here. With Shaun, back him on last year, England and the start of this year...not 10 or 5 or 2 years ago. We want him in his present form.
Nudge
Guest
Don I've backed Marsh but its now time with all the retirements to back in someone that has a better first class average than 37 over 10 years
Rellum
Roar Guru
Seccombe was number two with the gloves in many peoples eyes, but Gilly was another beast with the bat.
Don Freo
Guest
Except Seccombe was the 3rd best. Hartley is #1.
josh
Roar Rookie
Hartley is the new Seccombe.
AREH
Roar Guru
Gee what a knock from Head; against a reasonable attack too - the young man is class. Does make you wonder though how well the SA side will travel without big contributions from Head/Ferguson/Cooper; I'd say there's still a fair bit of reliance on them. Sadly too this was always going to happen with the young CA side, but it shouldn't be about results and numbers as much for those boys. They were essentially up against an International strength bowling attack too yesterday. And perhaps Justin Langer was on the money about Bancroft's ability in shorter-form cricket. Andrew Fekete may have another outstanding domestic season yet too.