The second last round of the Sheffield Shield, and competition for the first two spots is heating up! Keep reading to find out who has put themselves in the best position to host the final.
3 sentence summary: A first-innings collapse from Victoria and a fine all-round performance from Beau Webster helped Tasmania put one foot into the Sheffield Shield decider. Will Sutherland’s five wickets coupled with Nic Maddinson’s third consecutive century kept Victoria in the hunt, but in the end, Tasmania’s total proved too much.
Who pushed Test claims? Beau Webster has a record that only Garry Sobers, Tom Moody (twice), Simon O’Donnell and Norm O’Neill have achieved in Shield cricket. He’s scored 840 runs and taken 20 wickets. He should be the next man up for Australian selection should they need another all-rounder
Who did not push Test claims? Poor Will! Will Pucovski picked up his 12th concussion during the match ducking straight into a Riley Meredith short ball. A lot of people have high hopes for his Test future, but with all that we currently know about concussions, Will’s commentary box future looks brighter than his playing future. Something for him to consider moving forward.
3 sentence summary: Queensland’s first innings batting collapse proved costly as they lost by 154 runs. Western Australia’s win propelled them ahead of Victoria into second spot with one round to play. Josh Inglis’ second innings ton and Corey Rocchiccioli’s eight wickets for the match helped WA to a comfortable victory.
Who pushed Test slaims? With continued pressure around Alex Carey in the Test side, Inglis’ ton helped him push his red ball claim as well as being the current white ball incumbent. If the selectors drink the Kool-Aid and kick Carey out, Inglis would seem to have inside running to be his replacement.
Who did not push Test claims? Has Cameron Bancroft given up? His run-scoring has seemingly dried up since the Big Bash League finished, at least compared to his recent form. Hopefully, Bancroft finds some form in the last round and finds it quickly!
3 sentence summary: A drawn match played at Cricket Central in Sydney. With limited time left to get the ninth wicket and Ben Manenti playing tough to remove, time was called and the match was a draw. The wicket at Cricket Central looks like a good batting wicket, and maybe making it a little more competitive might help produce a better result.
Who pushed Test claims? Nathan McSweeney made composed 50s in both innings for South Australia setting down another marker for his push for the Test side. Still young, it would be great to see this consistency continue.
Who did not push Test claims? Jake Lehmann. although a long shot for Test selection, continues to be hit-and-miss with his results. He’ll want to improve his consistency should he have any shot at making the Test team.
How this is selected: 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.
Nic Maddinson
Sam Whiteman
Jayden Goodwin
Nathan McSweeney
Thomas Kelly
Beau Webster
Josh Inglis
Will Sutherland
Jack Wildermuth
Chris Green
Gabe Bell
Stay tuned for Round 10!
Opeo
Roar Rookie
If his batting alone justifies his selection his bowling does not matter, and it would not matter if he did not bowl for that national side. Having extra bowling options cannot be a bad thing either.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Definitely a mistake there,Gibbo.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Don't forget Mr Flat Track Bully, David Warner.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Just a reminder of what's to come; Cooper Connolly just whacked 181no at #3 in a Premier League cricket final yesterday.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
That's because that article, that thread, was not about international batsmen. Only you went on that tangent because of your penchant for the irrelevant.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Didnt include the international team so he’s not the most prolific batsman in Australia even though Id kind of like to see him get a start in the side. If you were specifically talking about who outscored him in the shield thats a totally different question to the thread . Don wrong again
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Who do you think has outscored Webster?
Pierro
Roar Rookie
totally called out don . Your statement was about Webster being the most prolific run scorer in the country. Thats not true. you didnt qualify it by time or the international team or shield . Trying to worm out of your error as usual . And thread and article are talking about replacing marnus and head. Your making up BS as usual thats innaccurate despite Webster having a fine shield year . Case closed
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
No “calling out” there. Just advertising limitations in your frame of reference and I’m educating you. My goodness, you need it.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Don angry . got called out for being wrong again . Headline whose putting pressure on Marnus. My thread can comment on test players v Shield candidates as a consequence. Don give up your beaten and wrong yet again. Facts are facts. Don hates being called out
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Gibbo's articles are about the last round of Shield cricket and he has section on who's putting their hand up for selection. Webster is. Most people on a cricket thread wouldn't need that explained to them; you do. You're a reminder of that Monty Python argument sketch.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
This was a discussion thread about replacing Marnus or Head above and the article was titled who could replace Marnus (ie a current test team player). Stop trying to cover up the fact you made an error by stating who is the most prolific batsmen in the COUNTRY not Shield . Once again Don trying to cover up his error and wrong call
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Since when does a flat deck negate a 100 and call it a failure? Tendulkar was an also-ran by that measure. He certainly has not played 8 innings since BBL. That would be season over already.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It happens already with Marsh and Green. It impacts on nothing.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
This is an article about Shield cricket.
Gibbo
Roar Pro
Since the end of the BBL, Bancroft has 297 runs (including 100* on a flat deck) at 36 and only once more has he passed 50. That’s in 8 innings. When you average 39 for your career, that’s not too bad, but compared to his output over the past 2 seasons, then yes, the runs have seemingly dried up.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Lets see how Head goes on this flatter deck in second innings. He won't get a better opportunity as its now a batting dream for the most part
Gibbo
Roar Pro
Rocchiccioli has had a great season. He might even make the tournament team. Let’s see…
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Almost a solid point there Don except he is most prolific in the shield that doesnt include the international squad doing duty at higher level. Head is failing to much more via his reckless decision making than anything
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Could be the way forward if Marsh doesnt keep up his prolific efforts before NZ but the way Head is batting means Webster looks attractive as an aggressive batsman anyway