There is never a good time to get a pair in cricket.
But Queensland wicketkeeper Chris Hartley will be ruing the timing of his double batting failure in front of national selector Trevor Hohns in the side’s Sheffield Shield clash with NSW at the Gabba on Tuesday.
Especially after copping what appeared to be a dubious caught behind decision that warranted a livid Bulls coach Stuart Law to seek out match referee David Talalla.
At stumps on day three, Queensland were reeling at 7-102 in their second innings with an overall lead of 272 after Hartley was again sent packing for a duck.
Hartley was expected to be in the mix if Australian ‘keeper Brad Haddin did not overcome a shoulder injury by the first Test against India starting on December 4.
However, Hartley appeared to be denied a chance to impress resident selector Hohns with the bat before the Test squad is named on Monday.
He was controversially given caught behind for a nine-ball duck off Doug Bollinger (2-15) by umpire Shawn Craig.
Hartley left a rising delivery and appeared to be struck on the chest but was given out caught behind by Craig, prompting Law to seek out Talalla in the Gabba stands for clarification.
Hartley – who only lasted two balls in the first innings – cut a shattered figure as he trudged off on Tuesday.
Law also appeared to be angered by Craig’s questionable lbw decision that sent Peter Forrest packing for nine.
NSW hit back hard with the ball after Queensland’s Test quick Ryan Harris (3-59) and Luke Feldman (5-83) helped bowl the Blues out for 302 on a rain affected third day.
Feldman notched his fourth five-wicket haul of his career when he dismissed Nic Maddinson (118), ending the youngster’s gutsy four-hour knock.
Showers washed out the first session but Feldman and Harris made hay while the sun shone after NSW resumed at 6-217 after lunch.
In his first match in eight months due to knee surgery Harris will be on a hat-trick in NSW’s second innings after mopping up the Blues tail.
Queensland – holding a 170-run first innings lead – looked to be building a daunting target when they went to tea at 0-18 in their second innings.
But Sean Abbott (3-23), Bollinger and Gurinder Sandhu (2-51) ripped through the Bulls order after the break as Queensland remarkably lost 7-84.
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