Marnus Labuschagne’s Test place is even more precarious after he was part of a rush of wickets on a lively day one of the Sheffield Shield final in Adelaide.
Sent in by South Australia’s captain Nathan McSweeney, Queensland were rolled for 95, continuing their unwanted record as the only state to be bowled out for under 100 in Shield finals – this was the third occasion after tallies of 75 in 1993 and 84 in 2003.
Marnus Labuschagne’s unsightly dismissal in the first innings of the Sheffield Shield final.Credit: Cricket.com.au
Australia’s selectors were hoping to see something substantial from Labuschagne amid a crush for batting spots in the team ahead of the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s in June, but got only a brief stay of seven balls.
On a surface offering some help for seamers but under sunny skies, Labuschagne was out-thought by SA’s spearhead Nathan McAndrew, who coaxed the Bulls skipper to flick to leg gully, after he was fortunate to survive a delivery that rolled from his body onto the stumps but did not disturb the bails.
Labuschagne couldn’t make the most of this lucky break in the Shield final.Credit: Cricket.com.au
Labuschagne will get another chance in the second innings of this game, but for now the stocks of Cameron Green and Josh Inglis have risen as they compete with Sam Konstas and Labuschagne for a couple of spots in the batting order.
Khawaja out early amid talks about his Queensland blow-up
Usman Khawaja was twice dropped in the slips off the excellent McAndrew, and did not look to be at his best while facing 28 balls at Karen Rolton Oval.
Ultimately Khawaja miscued a hook shot and was well taken at long leg by McAndrew, for the first of former Queenslander Brendan Doggett’s six wickets.
The opener’s place in the Queensland team had been a point of contention after a much-publicised blowup with Queensland Cricket’s head of performance Joe Dawes, who was present in Adelaide to see day one after a conference to mark the end of the season.
Dawes and Cricket Australia’s high-performance chief, Ben Oliver were expected to meet and discuss both Khawaja and the wider issues around player availability for state matches, following the pair of explosive press conferences in Brisbane.
Other states have seen similar issues in recent times, but the Australian team’s hierarchy is adamant that not burning out players is a key both to their longevity and also the success of the team, which boasts global supremacy in Tests and the 2023 ODI World Cup win.
Callum Vidler celebrates his first wicket as a Queensland Bull.Credit: Getty Images
Promising Vidler keeps Bulls alive
Defending just 95 in the first innings, Queensland were in a world of pain when they went into the field in early afternoon, but they were given a glimmer of hope by one of Australia’s most promising young quick bowlers.
Callum Vidler was part of the under-19 World Cup win last year, alongside Konstas and WA seamer Mahli Beardman, and after starting off a fraction too short delivered a high-class spell for his state.
Henry Hunt and McSweeney were both beaten by full deliveries shaping away from them, before Vidler came back to force Alex Carey to drag onto the stumps and Liam Scott to glove behind.
The only query around Vidler came from a stunning blow to the helmet when he batted, which forced concussion testing and also allowed the young paceman to make regular trips off the field in the final session of a warm day in Adelaide.
At 6-112, SA were in danger of being bowled out before the close, but Jake Lehmann and all-rounder Ben Manenti steadied things somewhat for the highly favoured hosts. Lehmann is playing in the final 29 years after his father, Darren Lehmann, took part in SA’s last Shield triumph in 1996.
Queensland 95 (Doggett 6-31) v South Australia 6-155 (Lehmann 42 not out, Vidler 4-33)
