Turning down a lucrative payday in Abu Dhabi for the chance of a belated Sheffield Shield debut proved a golden move for globetrotting T20 gun for hire Chris Green.
The abundance of cricket being played, including a Prime Minister’s XI clash with the touring West Indies, and international limited overs and impending Test matches has provided a catapult for some around the country into their state teams.
Green, 29, a perennial and sought-after attendee of T20 tournaments around the world, was one keen to put on white clothes and don his very first “baggy blue” after being included in the NSW side for the SCG clash with Western Australia.
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And after taking 4-20 in his domestic one-day game in more than four years last week, Green was in the wickets again with the red-ball, snaring the first three WA wickets at the SCG, then added a fourth when he had Josh Philippe stumped in a star turn.
Green, who opted against playing in the T10 league this year when told he could be in line for a NSW debut, was one of two new spinners unleashed with who leg-spinner Toby Gray also playing on a seriously spinning wicket in Sydney.
Between them the pair of tweakers took seven wickets to roll ladder-leaders WA for 233, Green snaring 4-71 and Gray 3-58 on the opening day.
IN ADELAIDE former Test opener Joe Burns fell just short of the perfect celebration in 100th Shield game for Queensland when he was run out for 85.
Burns, 33, who made a century on his Shield debut for the Bulls against the same opponents at the same venue in 2011, was cruising towards a 20th first-class ton before his 237-ball stay was ended.
Queensland looked like powering away from SA’s first innings total of 240 before Nathan McAndrew got the redbacks back in to the contest with a five-wicket haul.
The fast bowler snared 5-83 to reduce the visitors from 4-213 to all out 342, a lead of 105 which the home team made a good start of reeling in.
When rain stopped play late on day three, SA was 1-69 and needing to set something for Queensland to chase on the final day at Adelaide Oval.
