Round 4 separated the likely from the aspirational. It produced a huge upset and exposed some frailties in other sides.
Victoria vs Tasmania CitiPower Centre, Geelong
3 Sentence Summary
Tasmania provided a stern test for Victoria’s young attack. The Vics fought hard, but in the end the match petered out into a tame draw. Some outstanding highlights from both sides showed that both sides possess great quality.
Who pushed Test claims?
How much do the selectors take into consideration runs made on flat tracks? If so, Marcus Harris and Tim Ward pushed their cases for consideration to be in the Australian side. However, it is both openers’ first major scores of significance for this season, and it will be interesting to see how they progress in future rounds. Meanwhile, Beau Webster has continued his outstanding season and should be in consideration for higher honours.
Victoria’s Marcus Harris. (Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Who did not push Test claims?
After a stellar start to the season, Matt Short has come back to earth a little. Whilst 2/58 off 20 overs is a good return for any bowler, a second ball duck has halted his batting momentum a little. In a match like this where so many runs were scored, picking someone who did not push Test claims is difficult.
New South Wales vs Western Australia Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
3 Sentence Summary
STOP THE PRESS! New South Wales has finally won a game! In the biggest win for New South Wales since 2014 (when they stopped the mighty Queensland State of Origin dynasty), they produced a really good game on a pitch which offered a bit to the bowlers.
Who Pushed Test Claims?
Chris Tremain picked up another 7 wickets in this game to go 5 clear of Nathan McAndrew as the leading wicket-taker in the Sheffield Shield. His former teammate Scott Boland had a similar season a couple of years ago flying under the radar and made a now-famous debut on Boxing Day. Could Tremain be in for a similar trajectory?
Who Did Not Push Test Claims?
Nathan Lyon. Obviously, the GOAT is not going to be upstaged at this point in his career, but being out bowled by rising star Corey Rocchiccioli shows that he still has some work to do before the Test season begins. One thing is for sure is that Lyon has the better haircut of the two.
Queensland vs South Australia The Gabba, Brisbane
3 Sentence Summary
Queensland are rueing bowling first and a first innings losing by just 3 runs. The undoubted match of the round featured a competitive declaration from Jake Lehmann, wonderful centuries from Henry Hunt, Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney. Queensland will need to ensure that they start to win some matches so they continue to push for the top two.
Michael Neser. (Photo by Peter Mundy/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Who Pushed Test Claims?
Henry Hunt finally made that elusive ton, and he went on and made it a big one. Hunt’s 169 sent a timely reminder of his potential to the selectors. He will probably need a few more runs to stand out amidst a crowded field, but this was a great reminder of his talent.
Who Did Not Push Test Claims?
Michael Neser. When was the last time any player, let alone Neser, had 0 runs and 0 wickets across both batting and bowling innings for both innings? Neser conceded at less than 3 runs per over and took a catch, but other than that, he did very little to contribute to the match. He had better hope that the selectors take his past performances over this one!
Round four’s best XI
This looks at the best players in each position and fits them in where appropriate. Players can be moved down a rung in the batting order from where they normally bat, but they cannot move up. For example, Matthew Renshaw could open or bat at 3, but since he did not make runs in the middle order, he would not be eligible to bat in the middle order. The objective of this is to track the consistency across the Shield season. At least one player from each side should be selected unless one team utterly dominated that round.
Henry Hunt
Marcus Harris
Charlie Wakim
Usman Khawaja
Nathan McSweeney
Ollie Davies
Jimmy Peirson
Beau Webster
Joel Paris
Nathan McAndrew
Chris Tremain
Stay tuned for Round 5!
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
I'd be very excited to see him get a game for Aus this test summer. Perfect time to inject him They have data re number of overs/balls delivered and risk of injury in young quicks so they limit their output. It's as simple as that. If you like a player enough to wish they weren't being managed then I'm sure you wouldn't want to see them sidelined for months with spinal fractures
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
I see that Don Freo is keeping a low profile. And so he should with his World Champion Super Duper 'Gropers giving NSW their first Shield win in an ice age.
Gibbo
Roar Pro
Fair call, Sammy. I was probably a little harsh on the guy. In relation to the two Tests, I remember watching both of them, and I certainly don’t remember either deck being particularly bad. Both were just good cricket wickets with a little bit in it for both bowlers and batsmen. If you applied yourself, there were runs there, but there was also enough for the bowlers to stay interested. One thing that Harris has always had going for him is his powers of concentration. He’s always had that in spades, and I’d venture to say that in England, the relative lack of airspeed from the majority of the bowlers he’s facing would help him score runs.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
You've decided that I don't like the fella because I reckon he can't bat where the ball's doing a bit? Must be nice to be God, knowing what other people think without having met them. The guy's batted 273 times so it would not be surprising if he didn't make some runs when the ball's moving. If you bothered to read my comment, I wrote "he rarely if ever makes runs when the ball's doing a bit". Pleae note, I didn;t write "never". A Test average of 25 and umpteen chances to prove otherwise, also suggests he struggles against quality bowlers who can shape the ball. But of course you won't agree, given your obvious bias.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I can see your point for sure. Lyon still took 3 wickets, so not a bad return. Given Lyon's role in the Test side in Australia is primarily to keep one end tight, I reckon he's heading into some good form, if this game is any indication
Gibbo
Roar Pro
Fair. Depends on what you want from your spinner. As a captain, I want my spinner to take wickets, and I’m ok if he concedes a few runs in the process. Lyon kept it tight but didn’t seem as incisive as Rocchiccioli did. That was my take on it.
SammyC1
Roar Rookie
Your quote “ Harris can always make runs on flat tracks, but rarely if ever makes runs when the ball’s doing a bit.” Can be proven wrong so many times — a minefield of a wicket at the MCG test v England comes to mind where Harris made more runs than any Aus / Eng batter, a spicy Perth Stadium wicket against India where he made 70 & 20 (more than Head, Khawaja, Marsh) and hes made thousands of runs (and hundreds) in England where the ball does plenty. Just because you don’t like the fella doesn’t mean you completely make up something to suit a narrative.
Micko
Roar Rookie
CA website has SFA. :angry:
badmanners
Roar Rookie
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/sheffield-shield-2023-24-1391768/points-table-standings :thumbup:
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
At the bottom of the deep blue sea.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Richardson will be back in two weeks. Morris being 'managed' by CA makes my blood boil. What happens when the Tests start? 12th man? Give him one game against the West Indies? And also good to see the NSW team give it to those upstarts from the West, first in a one-dayer and then in a FC game. Put them in their place. And finally, Rocchiocolli had a average game,phew! Thanks again, Gibbo.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the summary Gibbo. :thumbup:
Micko
Roar Rookie
And where is the SS Table???
Micko
Roar Rookie
Thanks Gibbo. :thumbup: :cricket:
Damo
Roar Rookie
Haha, It's a huge joke. I haven't heard any ex players that would have agreed with it.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Geez Gibbo, I reckon you'd have to be president of the Rocchiccioli Fan Club. Either that or we were watching different Shield games at the SCG. This was a pitch that suited the bowlers, including the spinners and Lyon used conditions beautifully. 18 overs for 18 runs against the Shield champions in the first innings and another 14 overs for 21 runs in the 2nd, plus a couple of wickets, suggests to me he's making great strides, heading towards the 1st Test. Rocchiccioli on the other hand, against the weakest batting lineup in Shield cricket, bowled 14 overs for 58. I'm also not sure why Bancroft isn't in the team of the round? Harris can always make runs on flat tracks, but rarely if ever makes runs when the ball's doing a bit. Bancroft was pretty impressive, top scoring twice on that pitch against some quality bowling
Gibbo
Roar Pro
Damo, can you imagine them doing this to Brett Lee back in the day? Haha. Or Thommo?
Damo
Roar Rookie
CA has instructed WA to limit Morris' workload. He's only playing every 2nd game, at best, at the moment. If he's not the next one to be picked then there's some serious questions that need to be asked.
Gibbo
Roar Pro
I'm not sure Jhye Richardson will ever be fully fit and firing. He seems to be in a similar mould to Jason Behrendorff. You're spot on about the 32yo debutants. I LOVE Neser, and his stats are similar to if not better than most of the "Big 3" currently and Boland's. However, he's not getting any younger either, and unfortunately, has probably missed his opportunity, thanks to the selectors. I'd say that it's time for a root and branch review of the attack. The same 4 blokes have anchored this attack for several years now, keeping other deserving quicks out of the attack. Surely there are opportunities where you can get other guys in the side and really enhance your lineup. Maybe you call it "Horses for courses" or something like that?
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
Tremain is an interesting one. In my head he's a lot older than he really is. he's 32. 4,4,8 and 7 wickets in his last 4 games probably needs a game where he slaughters a few test contenders eg bangers - didn't get him. tho he did get Harris twice and Puc i think there is often a word of mouth element to these selections., so and so is the hardest guy we've faced this year etc be interesting to have an anonymous player poll -who's the best quick Neser Steketee Morris Tremain insert others -- more generally the selection of 32yo debutants really only secures marginal improvement for 2-3 years max. See Boland the question is are we appetitious for a root and branch review of the "attack". Can we get Morris in for at least a try? Can we get J Rich fit and in there to stay? Can we have both Cummins and Haze for the next however long, assuming that Starc is first to go ASAP? In scenarios where Cummins stays and Rich and Morris are fit and firing, I don't see value in Tremain (or similar types) debuting. which is a shame for him. but a pretty common story. Sort of a John Maguire situation IMHO. I think...