Cricket - 5 Winners and Losers from Round 3 of the Sheffield Shield
WINNERS
1. Cameron Bancroft - There is no better way to put your name up in lights than with a double hundred. Bancroft has been on the radar for a few years now, however has started this summer like a man on a mission with two half centuries against the Test attack, playing against NSW, and now a massive double century against South Australia. Bancroft is known for having a tremendous work ethic, and his tight technique will certainly be putting the heat on Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell, as he puts his name right in the frame to be there in Brisbane.
2. Jake Weatherald - Another young player starting to draw attention to himself is swashbuckling left-handed opening batsman Jake Weatherald from South Australia. Weatherald blazed 152 from just 180 balls at the WACA, after scoring 71 in the first game of the season against the NSW Test attack. Weatherald has a modest First Class record, averaging 33 with just two centuries. However, at the age of 23, time is on his side. What might draw the selectors’ eyes is his overall record of averaging 44, from just 14 List A games, with an imposing strike rate of 101.
3. Alex Doolan - I can't leave someone out of the winner’s circle who just went out and scored 247 not out, which is exactly what Alex Doolan did for an embattled Tigers’ outfit against Victoria. Doolan has had a horrendous run over the past couple of years, with 16 of his last 19 Sheffield Shield innings finishing with scores under 40. His three scores over 40 in that period include a 58 and, remarkably, two double centuries. It’s been a bad fall for a player who was once given the chance to be Australia’s next Number 3 in Test Cricket, where he averaged 23 from 4 Test matches.
4. Daniel Hughes - In a low scoring top of the table clash, Daniel Hughes was NSW’s best batsman, remaining unbeaten in both innings, batting at Number 6, against Queensland. Hughes was desperately unlucky to miss out on a century in the first innings being stranded on 98 not out, before steering the Blues safely home to a six wicket victory with a composed 23 not out in the second innings. Hughes has been a bit of a quiet achiever, and a player who has slipped under most people’s radar, having made an impressive start to his First Class career, averaging 40 from twenty games, with three centuries. Even more impressive is his white ball First Class record, averaging 65 from 14 games, showing he could be a candidate for a top order spot in both longer forms of the game for Australia down the track.
5. Doug Bollinger - I had to find room for a bowler somewhere here and The old warhorse Doug Bollinger might not be in Test calculations, however he proved once again he is still a quality performer for his State when called upon. Bollinger was forced to sit out the first couple of games with the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins playing, showcasing the amazing strength and depth currently in the NSW pace bowling stocks. Bollinger, at 36 years of age, is still capable of bowling long spells at good pace, and really controlled the Bulls’ batting line up taking 3/38 from 15 overs, before backing it up with another 3 wickets in 22 overs in the second innings. Alongside Trent Copeland, the Blues got another victory largely courtesy of their pace attack, as they remain at the top of the table.
LOSERS
1. Matthew Wade – Unfortunately, I think Wade’s papers have been marked and he will be dropped from the Australian Test side after a miserable run of form with the bat. Part of the reason Wade was brought back to the team was his batting, as he had never been the best glovesman in the country. Now that his batting is really struggling, I don't think the selectors will stick with him in Brisbane, even considering that Peter Neville hasn't exactly put his case forward strongly in the first three Shield games. Wade seems to have a few former great players in his corner, and he has had a really tough run of keeping for six matches in the sub-continent; however, his confidence looks shot at the moment.
2. Matthew Renshaw - This could be ironic as Renshaw could easily be one of winners, given he is likely to hold on to his place in the Test side, despite a woeful start to the Shield season. Renshaw failed to pass 20 in six innings and averaged just 11, and whilst he looked to be out in an unlucky fashion in both innings against NSW, his form would be a concern heading into the First Test match. Renshaw deserves his place in the Test side, many would argue, having averaged 36 in some tough environments as a young player. However, he will need runs early in the summer to keep a long term grip on his spot.
3. Joe Burns - Any faint hope Burns had of getting back into the mix for a Test spot were scuppered by a double failure against NSW at Allan Border Field. Burns was out for scores of 2 and 0, as veteran quick Doug Bollinger claimed his scalp in both innings. Whilst Mathew Renshaw also failed in both innings as the incumbent, he has some points in the bank and, with the likes of Cameron Bancroft, Jake Weatherald and Shaun Marsh all scoring some quality runs opening the batting, Burns appears to have a long graft ahead of him if he wants to get back into a Baggy Green.
4. Hilton Cartwright - I thought Cartwright was the frontrunner for the Number 6 batting spot coming into the summer, however he hasn't quite been able to transmit performances on to the field at the start of the Shield season. Cartwright would be frustrated that a number of starts have not turned into big scores, managing 155 runs from six innings to start the season, at an average below 30. I think ultimately he might get squeezed out with the Australian selectors likely to stick with Matt Crenshaw at the tip of the order and slot Cameron Bancroft into the number 6 role.
5. Shaun Marsh - On a wicket in Perth where some big runs were scored, Marsh missed an opportunity to push for a Test berth with scores of 17 and 52. Whilst the 34 year old remains on the national radar, I think he needed a big hundred to usurp Matt Renshaw, or his opening partner Cameron Bancroft, who has outshone Marsh so far this summer.