Queensland captain Usman Khawaja has taken a swipe at Tasmania’s stonewalling in their docile Sheffield Shield draw.
Khawaja and Tasmania halted the game 30 minutes before tea on Sunday’s last day in Adelaide.
Khawaja decared the Bulls’ first innings at 5-355 – 145 runs in arrears of Tasmania’s first dig of 6(dec)-500.
He expected the Tigers, who started Sunday 204 runs ahead, to accelerate their second innings and set a target.
Instead, Tasmania’s nightwatchman Lawrence Neil-Smith crawled to one run from his first 50 deliveries – the slowest scoring rate in Shield cricket in 25 years of any batsman to have faced a half-century of balls.
South Australia’s Tim May didn’t score from 52 balls in the domestic competition’s final in 1995/96 but his second innings rearguard helped the Redbacks secure a draw which, in turn, delivered SA the Shield.
Neil-Smith’s teammate Charlie Wakim on Sunday scored just one run from his initial 47 balls – he was dismissed for three from 61 balls.
Khawaja says he’s “a little bit disappointed” with the approach of Tasmania, who were 3-196 from 75 overs when the game stopped.
“We declared hoping they’d set us a chase, and then try to chase it,” Khawaja said.
“It was always going to be hard to get lots of wickets on that (pitch) so it had to be a sporting declaration and get them to set us a total and us try to chase it down.
“That was the only way there was going to be any result.
“But they obviously didn’t want to play that way.”
Khawaja said Tasmania batted for too long in their first innings which spanned 157 overs until tea on day two.
“They batted for a session too long … they could have pushed the game more on day two expecting them to declare around lunch, that’s when you normally declare,” he said.
“But that was just their game plan. I guess they were happy to get first innings (bonus) points and that’s what it was.”
Tasmanian opener Tim Ward, who followed his first-innings 144 with 81 in his second knock, confirmed his side’s mindset entering Sunday.
“We knew it was going to be tough to take 10 wickets and the decision was made just to go out there and keep batting and make sure we didn’t lose this one,” Ward said.
JohnB
Roar Rookie
There haven't been 2 points for the first innings win for some seasons. 6 for the outright, 1 each for a draw and bonus points for runs and wickets in the first 100 overs of the first innings.
JohnB
Roar Rookie
That is absolutely right. Pitches where the bowlers dominate attract criticism and penalties - to me pitches like this make for much worse cricket and presenting this for a Shield game is as worthy of a penalty as any greentop or dustbowl. While Tasmania hardly covered themselves in glory with their approach, in their second innings in particular, as a strong Qld supporter I have some sympathy for their captain - even if they'd tried to score quickly and set a target, they realistically still wouldn't have had more than 2 sessions to bowl at Qld. With only that much time to bat, on that pitch Qld could have gone out to chase whatever target was set knowing that if they lost a few wickets doing so they could close up shop and bat out time with few fears from the bowling. To an extent, that put Tasmania on a hiding to nothing. To me, it's better for the integrity of the competition for points to be earned rather than gifted - declare and set a target by all means, but only if that gives your team more of a chance to win that it does your opponents.
Paul
Roar Guru
I'd be really surprised if a team who'd averaged just on three runs an over could bat for 23 overs (an hour and a half) and make another 150. In saying that, sending in a nightwatchman to bat that slowly was not great for the game I agree it was hardly attacking cricket but I've no idea what was going through the minds of the Tassie brains trust. I'm guessing as you say, they were happy to give their blokes a hitout and played a very conservative game. It certainly doesn't make for great viewing but it is only game one for both teams. I wonder what Kahwaja would have done of the positions had been reversed?
Rellum
Roar Guru
Yes, we couldn't take wickets but at least we were trying to win. Tassie were more interested in batting and nothing else.
Tom
They had a 200 run lead with 9 wickets remaining and decided to send a night-watchman who crawled to 1 off 60 at one point when they still had the likes of Mcdermott, Wright, Webster and Silk to come. They could have comfortably pushed on to a 350+ run lead about a an hour and a half in to day 4 with that lineup if the didn’t send in Neil-Smith. There was zero chance of a Qld win, Tasmania had a small chance to push for a win and they didn’t even try. Negative, conservative cricket from Tasmania.
Paul
Roar Guru
The pathetic effort came from a Bulls attack that could not take 9 wickets across two innings. Just because Khawaja declared, doesn't mean Tassie has to do what he wants. Tassie have a relatively inexperienced side, it's the first game of the season and there was no chance they'd be able to bowl out the Bulls on that pitch in the time available on day 4, so why try?
Paul
Roar Guru
“We declared hoping they’d set us a chase, and then try to chase it,” Khawaja said. “It was always going to be hard to get lots of wickets on that (pitch) so it had to be a sporting declaration and get them to set us a total and us try to chase it down." Let's put this into some perspective. First of all, Khawaja said it was "a little disappointing" so I'd hardly call that taking aim at Tassie. Second, this is the first game for both sides this summer, so there are still plenty of chances for points in the competition. Third. read the comments above and tell me what was in for Tassie? They declare, set a chase on a pitch Khawaja admits was going to be hard to get lots of wickets, so what result could they hope for? At best a draw, at worst a thumping by a strong Bulls batting lineup. .
Clear as mud
Guest
Ussie better hope Qld don't miss the final by 2 points? Presumably he had a chat with the Tassie team and there was an agreement that they would declare? i mean, they could only take 6 wickets in 160 overs, and crawled along at 3.2 an over in response. he himself got 20.... off 60 balls, on a road. the Queensland innings seemem to decelerate the longer it went, until Peirson gave it a modest boost just go work on your batting and your bowling, Queensland
Micko
Roar Rookie
The main issue is pitches like Karen Rolton being used for the Shield. :thumbdown:
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
30 minutes before tea! Talk about getting to the pub pronto.
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Shield cricket is descending into a farce. Why even waste 4 days playing that rubbish. The pitch was sub standard too.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Pathetic effort from Tassie, first they runaway un Brissy then they are to scared to make a game of it. Congrates to Ward he batted well but Webster and the coaches should hang their heads. It is not about giving us a chance to win but to nit give your own team a chance to win is hopeless. There are no points for draws and QLD I believe got more points out of the game anyway.