Updated ,first published
There were two national selectors at the Sheffield Shield final on Friday. The intel they gathered will not have them any closer to a solution to Australia’s top-order batting issues.
Victoria, 4-110 in reply to South Australia’s 198, hold the marginal advantage after two days of the decider at the Junction Oval, but the biggest winner so far is a man who is not even playing this game, the incumbent Test opener Jake Weatherald.
In the three months since Weatherald left his Test berth up for question, no candidate has crashed the door down with a mountain of runs late in the Shield season.
In difficult batting conditions, former Test opener Nathan McSweeney and future star Campbell Kellaway did not exactly hurt their chances but they both missed opportunities to significantly strengthen their cases.
With selector Tony Dodemaide watching from the stands, and national coach Andrew McDonald keeping an eye from Cricket Victoria’s function room, McSweeney grafted for three hours – across two days – to make a hitherto game-high 52.
McSweeney, who endured a tough run against Jasprit Bumrah last season against India, has had a trying Shield campaign but showed his class in difficult conditions. At a time when batters opt to chance their arm on pitches heavily tilted in the bowler’s favour, McSweeney trusted his defence against a quality Victoria attack led by Scott Boland.
It took a trademark Boland delivery to remove McSweeney, who – caught in two minds by a delivery in the channel outside off stump – nicked off to a diving catch to Sam Harper.
Kellaway survived 24 overs of high-quality seam bowling in dull light only to close the bat on a ball from Henry Thornton that reared sharply to be caught by McSweeney running to short cover.
Scoring has proven so challenging on a well-grassed pitch offering sharp bounce and significant movement off the seam that even Alex Carey struggled. The Test gloveman made 26 off 88 balls before playing on to Sam Elliott, whose breakthrough went a long way to vindicating his line-ball selection over the unlucky Mitch Perry.
A key moment arrived when Vics skipper Will Sutherland bowled Liam Scott for 37, restricting South Australia to 198 and denying them any batting bonus points. It means if Victoria pass 200, they need only to draw the game to win the Shield.
A draw, though, seems unlikely, even with rain forecast on Saturday.
Victoria have been unconvincing in their response. Sam Harper wiped 20 off the chase in a cameo knock against the new ball but lasted only 10 balls before getting himself into an awkward position and edging.
Only eight overs of spin have been bowled across the first two days of CA’s showpiece domestic game, which will do little to ease the concerns of those who believe the art of slow bowling is being underappreciated.
T-shirt controversy on day one of Shield final
Cricket Australia say a fan denied entry to the Sheffield Shield final on Thursday because he was wearing a T-shirt supporting Imran Khan will now be allowed because the shirt is about a humanitarian issue.
Luke Brown was forced to cover up his “Free Imran Khan” shirt to gain entry to Junction Oval on Thursday as he was deemed to be making a political statement about the jailed Pakistani great.
But, when contacted by this masthead, Cricket Australia said while security staff had correctly followed instructions, after reviewing the situation, it did not view the treatment of Imran as a political issue, which means support for him does not contravene the governing body’s ticket and entry conditions.
“Given the widespread concern in the cricket community for Imran Khan’s welfare, we believe this is a humanitarian issue and will act accordingly,” a CA spokesperson said.
There is widespread concern over Imran’s health after reports of his deteriorating condition in Rawalpindi’s Adiala prison, where he is jailed on corruption charges.
A total of 14 former international captains from five Test nations, including Australian greats Steve Waugh and Allan Border and England’s Michael Atherton, signed a petition drafted by batting legend Greg Chappell calling for Imran to receive better prison treatment.
Other signatories include Australia’s Belinda Clark, former India captains Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar and West Indies icon Clive Lloyd.
A revered player around the world, Imran had arguably his finest on-field achievement in Melbourne 34 years ago when he captained Pakistan to their only World Cup victory.
Brown said he was “befuddled” at being ordered to cover the T-shirt, produced by cricket website Cricket Et Al. He was allowed entry after wearing another T-shirt on top.
“I was surprised,” Brown, a club cricketer for about 30 years, told this masthead. “I understand the argument they have to deal with other situations, so it just makes it easier for them if they apply a blanket rule. They were very nice.
“I can see why they made that call, but I think it’s the wrong one. The cricket world should be getting behind him.
“It’s up to them how they enforce their rules, but if they’re going to do this, then it puts a bigger onus on them to do more on other fronts to mobilise the cricket public to support Imran Khan.”
Brown later praised CA for clarifying their position.
“It’s easy for individual cricket fans like me to take the right stance on Imran’s treatment,” Brown said. “It’s harder for Cricket Australia, so I applaud them for doing so.”
Victoria held the early advantage on day one after claiming three early wickets on the first day to have South Australia on 3-55 at lunch.
Only 28 overs were bowled for the day, and none after the first break, due to persistent rain in the afternoon.
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