So cricket is back and boy both Shield games were spicy to watch. With that, these are top five performers for week one.
Western Australia: Aston Agar
Well, Agar had a great start to his season with making a crucial 114 and having a 266 run partnership with Josh Inglis which was crucial to WA’s score of 481 in the first innings.
Agar then proved his worth with the ball as well with taking five wickets in South Australia first innings and one in the second but his economy rate at 1.7 shows his importance as a bowler in four-day cricket. If Agar can continue this form could see himself playing Test cricket this summer.
Michael Neser
Well, wouldn’t have thought Neser at number eight would make 121 when the Bulls were 6/326. You would think Neser be back in the sheds but, boy did play inning that proves his worth as a batsman.
Also, what makes his century sweeter is that he did it in front of the Australian captain.
Neser backed it up with the ball, taking five wickets in the first innings. This performance gives himself a launching pad to get closer to play for Australia this summer.
Queensland: Marnus Labuschagne
Well, Marnus has not missed a beat, making a big hundred.
He made the Tassie bowlers work for it. Labuschagne again showed his class as a batsman and the more runs he makes at a first-class level will be key to his form when he plays in the upcoming Test series against India.
His leg-spin proved its worth as well as he helped Queensland bowl to victory late-day four. I would say Tim Paine must have Labuschange in his head as a batsman who could bowl some leg spin if needed, just like Michael Clarke.
Queensland: Mitch Swepson
Well, the young leg spinner finally has cracked it with the ball, taking five wickets in the whole match and more importantly four wickets on the fourth day.
It might help his chances to become Australia’s second spinner and if he keeps this form for Queensland then maybe a baggy green might come his way.
He might have shutdown Lloyd Pope’s chances of being the next leg spinner for Australia as Pope’s performance was poor over the four days, while Swepson looks dangerous with the ball.
South Australia: Jake Weatherald
Again highly underrated batsman once again might have proven his chances to play for Australia with making 105 in the first innings for South Australia.
Look good and made a start in the second innings with 36 but then was trapped by Aston Agar but looks good. If Weatherald keeps cracking on – and the selectors can’t find a new opener for David Warner – then Weatherald is the man.
Mooty
Roar Rookie
Neser set Queensland up with 5 first innings wickets and a first innings Century. No second innings fluff, all quality.
Gee
Roar Rookie
Bartlett for Swepson imho. He took more wickets in the match and dismissed better quality batsmen in the second innings.
Paul
Roar Guru
I wasn't hugely impressed by the early part of Labuschagne's innings, when he was dropped 2 or 3 times. Sure he looked the goods once he got over that first hour and a bit and that innings should have knocked off some cobwebs. The innings that really impressed me were the knocks by Matt Renshaw and Cam Bancroft. Given where these guys were at the end of last season, I reckon they played 3 excellent knocks between them. I hope they can build on this in the coming Shield games.
Tom
Xavier Bartlett over Weatherald, 7 wickets all of which were top 6 batsmen out shines a 100 on a flat deck that everyone scored 100’s on imo. I also disagree that Weatherald is underrated, he’s suitably rated for someone with an average below 35 who has spent half his career batting on flat Adelaide Oval wickets. He is wildly inconsistent.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Your a tough marker Patrick, Pope took all of the five wickets to fall in West Australia's first innings and you still class him as "poor". The Redbacks would have been in real trouble without him!