This Junction Oval deck is unsuitable for first class cricket. Handscomb bitching about Head not manufacturing a result. Perhaps if the Bushies did not bat for first two days this situation need not have arisen.

Mike is Smithy even more quirky with his mannerisms than usual. When he lets a ball go looks like he is swatting a large insect. 
You jest of course.. Maxwell for #6 because he gets a couple of wickets while Cooper and Andrews are tonking at will. Mitch Marsh has it locked if Ca wants to go that path.. personally I wanna see a specialist bat there. But we seem to lack in form specialist bats at the moment.

Neser on fire now, sending Smith and Henriques on their way and  had Hughes dropped on 8 as well. His 36 in the 2nd innings showed the pitch has flattened out, it's just good bowling. an extra 30-50 runs would have been interesting. I still reckon Neser would have been a better selection over Siddle in the Ashes tests. Stanlake hasn't been overly impressive and giving a few easy runs.

The catch by Pierson to get Smith shows why many rate him the number 1 wicket-keeper in Australia, if he can just get more consistency with his batting. Yes I am jesting about Maxwell. I want 6 good batsmen in the Australian side, no all rounders.

Another failure by Josh Philippe, I'm still not convinced he has what it takes, only averaging 27 at FC cricket

Maddinson was not batting against two blokes that rarely bowled.. Cooper's last 100 or so before stumps last nite came from 19 overs from Handscomb and Harris. A protest bowl over Head's decision not to make a game of it. rather a dummy spit if you ask me.
I rated Maddo and Pucovski centuries far more than Harris' . He was dropped twice before he tonned up. 

Neser has three.. Smithy included. Surely we cant lose it given the strong position we were in. I am backing Dan Hughes to get us home.

I agree Baggers, Smith seems to show a bit too much, i'll call it arrogance for lack of a better word. He need to reign it in, it can lead to bad habits, and against good bowling like Qld do have, he has struggled, the extra pace by Gannon got him before he became sturdy on his foot position, and Neser got him with a bit of movement when he was unsteady. Arrogance is a really bad thing, but he doesn't appear to have that trait generally.

Now Larkin out, Baggers your NSW really batsmen cannot play well away from flat NSW pitches, this pitch isn't as bad as the first day, it is very consistent in bounce. They should have it in the bag but it now falls on the head of Bertus, who as I write goes for 0. getting exciting, but NSW should win, if they don't questions have to be asked. Both fell to Stanlake that isn't bowling well, but you have to admire Pierson's keeping so neat behind the stumps, 

Mike no comment on my Test team in five years time. Pure conjecture I know. But there is some serious talent among the group on the bottom of my post.

Have to agree with you re Renshaw. More time in FL. Either that or bat him down the Bull's order. He did bat the entire first session in the first innings. That is a good measure of his temperament. Now he needs to string some big scores together. 

Five down now. Has the Gabba juiced up. Going down like 9 pins.

No way it is arrogance.. it is quirkiness. Some are saying he has attention deficit disorder.. or whatever it is.

 Are Blues choking? I have to question the continual selection of Henriques. His bowling is crap also so not being picked on all round ability. I'd prefer even Dan Sams to him.  

Philippe needs to find a balance between patience and belligerence. He has masses of natural talent but keeps getting himself out rather than the bowler getting him. If you know what I mean. For instance the stroke he played here that he nicked behind..needed to be left.  It was too full to attempt that drive. But only a few balls earlier he played an exquisite drive to a similar ball but not as full. He did hit 48 in the first innings.

Those heavy rain clouds rolling in again.
Sydney is having similar weather.

If Hughes gets the Blues home he has to be seriously considered for test cricket. He has a better FC record than others in this current side. Plus he has a better temperament and work ethic. He values his wickets.. surely one of the most vital of all Test credentials. So he is 30.. that is square in the middle of a batsman's peak.

So far this round Pucovski has scored a century, albiet on a road. This guy has great talent.

Paine has scored his first FC century for 14 years - the last when he was 21 years of age! He has plenty of talent, but hasn't  delivered as a batter.

That farce in Melbourne has been put out of its misery.

Cooper made MOM.. also a farce. I'd like to give it to a bowler.. but nothing much there. Maddinson produced the more quality knock out of he and Cooper for mine. 

Let us hope Stanlake can back it up in the second innings.

50 to Hughes. Looks like he and Nevill will now get us home.

Who is your MOM Mike.  I cant go past the most improved paceman in the country imho.. Harry Conway. 34 overs 10/56..pretty impressive. 

Special mention to the most improved batsman in the country imho.. Marnus Labuchagne. Have to mention Warner's contribution as that set up the game for Hughes and Nevill to finish. Bertus and Burns played a part too.

Cant blame Maddinson for the deck he was dealt. If those 220 are not considered worthy then he still has those 563 runs from his last 4 games of last season.. to use as bargaining chips for when the selectors are discussing his possible inclusion in at least one of the two series this summer.

What a shame that the match at the WACA petered out to a draw, thanks to the last wicket stand between Agar and Paris. Especially after that 3 wicket over from Bird, including the blinder down the leg side from Paine. I had just settled down into my seat with a fresh cider hoping that Tas might still consider a run chase, when they decided to up stumps.

I think that cutting games short like in Perth and Melbourne is cheating the paying spectator. You pay your hard earned for a days play so you should get a full day..nothing less.  Ok so a result was unlikely so what is wrong with the umpires saying play until stumps. There may be some exciting cricket still to watch.

I can understand them not wanting to play a dead rubber. But given there was still a full session to play, and they are struggling to draw crowds to domestic games as it is, they could always offer to fill the gap somehow - autograph signings, mini coaching session, player interviews or something. 

I noticed Lyon and Siddle weren't playing in this round of Shield games.

Disappointing!

Did you see that apparently Mitch Marsh has busted his hand whacking the dressing room wall after he was dismissed?? Warriors are dropping like nine pins and it’s only the first game of the season...

A T20 if time allows.. or a T10. Give the punters something to enjoy to lift spirits after a tame draw.

Yes ala Stokes few years back. Busted his hand and was out for some time. 

Lyon was injured.. Siddle not sure about. How does he crack a strong lineup as Pattinson, Tremain and Boland. Needs to bow out gracefully. 

Great idea. With the ball signed and given to charity.

I think Marsh was probably frustrated that his inability to convert a decent start had hurt his chances of cementing a test spot. How ironic that in doing so he's now really dashed any hopes in the short term.

Shame to hear this.

It seems funny Siddle is playing test cricket, selected in front of fellow Vics Tremain and Boland, but state selectors think differently.

Looking at all the scoreboards, in the first round quite a few players we hope would fire haven't .

In Victoria it seems like there was such a highway, it was too easy to score a century.