Red ball  cricket is finally here for we tragics.. The new Shield season starts this morning.

Bulls play Tigers in Brisbane

Blues play Redbacks in Adelaide

Vics play Warriors. in Perth.

Six teenagers could be in action for their states today with Shield debuts. All five potential debutants featured in the Australia U19 side that reached the final of this year's U19 World Cup in New Zealand. The most exciting imho is Blues right hander Jason Sangha. Much has been written about this kid since he burst onto the scene while still at school. He scored a century at 16 years of age in an U19 overseas match and was the youngest batsman since the "little master" Sachin Tendulkar to post a ton against a visiting English touring side. The other babies are Max Wright, Nathan McSweeney (Bulls), plus Redbacks leggie Loyd Pope and Blues rookie all rounder Jack Edwards. He must not bat anywhere above #7 in my view as there is work to be done on his technique. 

Why doesnt CA every think outside the box? With an Ashes this year why not use the Duke ball at the start of the Shield season as well. There are always some green decks this time of the year. Combine this with the moving Duke and that is a challenge for even the best techniques. :

There is usually something in these early season decks for the quicks. The autumn wet may juice em up even further.
I wanna see blokes batting time and putting up their names for July's Ashes. 

There will be a rain delay in Adelaide. Brisbane is also expecting a delay. the whole country is wet at the moment
         
         

The Brissie match is now underway.

Queensland: Joe Burns, Sam Truloff, Charlie Hemphrey, Sam Heazlett, Nathan McSweeney, Jack Wildermuth, Jimmy Peirson (c/wk), Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Luke Feldman, Peter George.
Tasmania: Jordan Silk, Alex Doolan, Beau Webster, Jake Doran, George Bailey (c), Matthew Wade (wk), Simon Milenko, Tom Rogers, Sam Rainbird, Jackson Bird, Gabe Bell.

I am having trouble understanding how Beau Webster keeps getting picked for Tassie.. with a mediocre FC record of @27 with bat and @41 with ball. Surely there is a superior batsman/slow bowler somwhere on the Apple Isle better than this.

Some moving of covers at AO. Looking briter too. A possible start 1.30 ACDT.

Is cricket the only major sport where rain can see it abandoned?

Hard to imagine this archaic practice is still happening here in the 21st Cent.

Speaking of archaic. When is Australian cricket going to ditch the old hand laid centre wicket rain covers for something like English cricket uses.(below)  Time CA invested in these for Shield and Test cricket.
https://youtu.be/JCEu9pUiYVU

Live stream at the Gabba has finally come thru. Pitch looks a greentop..not unexpected with rain around.

Some movement at AO with Redbacks bowling first. No start time as yet.

False alarm.. raining again. Little chance now of any play today.

Western Australia: Will Bosisto, Jono Wells, Hilton Cartwright, Ashton Turner (c), Marcus Stoinis, Josh Philippe, Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Matt Kelly, David Moody, Simon Mackin.
Victoria: Marcus Harris, Travis Dean, Will Pucovski, Peter Handscomb (c), Cameron White, Matt Short, Seb Gotch (wk), Chris Tremain, Scott Boland, Jackson Coleman, Andrew Fekete                              

    

         

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Will this be Will Bosisto's breakout year?  He has sure taken his time since skippering the 2012 U19s to a WC runner up spot.
CA will be keeping a close eye on the prodigiously talented Warrior duo of Josh Philippe and Cameron Green. No Sam Whiteman?

Both sides have chosen a four pronged pace attack

Always grateful to CA for the live stream.. but who do some states have inferior coverage to others? Qld Cricket does not even have commentary. Visually the WACA coverage is the worst.

Alex Doolan starts the season with a century.

SA: Jake Weatherald, Conor McInerney, Callum Ferguson, Jake Lehmann (c), Tom Cooper, Harry Nielsen (wk), Cameron Valente, Joe Mennie, Nick Winter, Chadd Sayers, Lloyd Pope

NSW: Daniel Hughes, Nick Larkin, Kurtis Patterson, Moises Henriques, Jack Edwards, Peter Nevill (c/wk), Jason Sangha, Daniel Sams, Steve O'Keefe, Trent Copeland, Sean Abbott

The three Blues to debut whenever they get play.  (l-r) Jack Edwards, Jason Sangha, Daniel Sams.

Sorry this has to be the weakest Blues top six I have seen in almost 40 years of supporting my state.
Daniel Hughes, Nick Larkin, Kurtis Patterson, Moises Henriques, Jack Edwards, Peter Nevill

SA/Blues match finally underway. Expected a greentop.. we have a straw col pitch.

Someone please tell me why Shield games are not played on smaller grounds as watching cricket with empty stands in an imposing stadium like Adelaide Oval is miserable.

Tassie was 1-150ish against Q’land.

Who do you support KW?

Doolan kicked off his season with a rare century that was the reason the 1-50ish.

Peter George has been a good performer for a lot of years. Often wondered why he never played more than the solitary Test.

Another soggy AO for the start of the second day.

The Gabba deck was about as green as the jolly old giant yesterday.. still a greenish tinge to it.

Hasnt Mitch Swepson dropped off the radar.

A solid first innings by the Tigers.. 355.

Play expected to start at AO at 12.40.

Take a look at Jack Edwards dismissal. This was what I was afraid of with his technique. By the time he moves his back leg into position it is too late. For heavens sake someone tweak his technique. This kid is a walking wicket!:w00t:

Why do Blues keep picking loser O'Keefe.

Blues imploding after looking comfortable overnite.

This deck looks far better than the score indicates. Perhaps there is some moisture under the surface?