Jake Weatherald and Beau Webster have both failed with the bat in their final matches before the first Ashes Test, with the former chopping on for 23 and his Tasmanian teammate caught behind for 13.
Selectors will opt for either Weatherald or Marnus Labuschagne to open with Usman Khawaja in the Perth Test, beginning on November 21, and whether they go for both Cameron Green and Webster or, alternatively, only Green, remains uncertain.
Weatherald got off to a typically quickfire start on day one of Tasmania's Sheffield Shield match against South Australia in Hobart on Monday, hitting five boundaries as he raced to 23 from 32 balls on a green Hobart deck.
READ MORE: Heavyweight in 'awful trouble' as World Cup contenders shift
READ MORE: Queensland sign another Lynagh young gun
READ MORE: Burger chain's subtle Piastri change exposes Aussie's awful dip
But the 31-year-old left-hander then chopped a Scott Boland delivery onto his stumps as he shuffled on the crease and tried to slash the ball through the off side.
Webster, batting at No.6 for Tasmania, worked his way to 13 before taking a swing at a Henry Thornton ball down leg and gloving it through to Alex Carey.
The big-framed all-rounder punched his bat in anger as he trudged off.
Late in the day, he had Test teammate Travis Head caught behind for 9 before finishing the day with figures of 1-21 from six overs.
Doggett stakes Ashes claims with five-for
Brendan Doggett took a five-wicket haul for South Australia amid the prospect of Australia's selectors needing to call upon a back-up quick.
The 31-year-old took 5-66 against Tasmania on day one, dismissing Caleb Jewell, Jordan Silk, Jake Doran and a couple of tailenders.
Doggett and NSW quick Sean Abbott are the back-up quicks in the squad for the first Test, ready to receive a baggy green if Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood or Scott Boland go down.
Test captain Pat Cummins won't play in Perth due to a back injury but could return for the second Test.
Starc's ominous warning for England
In the Sheffield Shield match between NSW and Victoria at the SCG, Starc claimed four wickets on day one in an ominous Ashes warm-up.
For Starc's first wicket, the left-arm quick dismissed opener Harry Dixon with an old-fashioned sandshoe crusher, removing him lbw for 20.
Starc finished day one with figures of 4-91, Hazlewood 0-54, Abbott 1-70 and Test spinner Nathan Lyon 2-65.
Young Victorian opener Campbell Kellaway, 23, made a patient 51 in another promising knock before trying to glance Starc down leg and gloving the ball through to Josh Philippe.
Former Test batter Peter Handscomb chalked up a century before Lyon sent down a beautiful delivery that beat his outside edge, bowling him for 104.
Khawaja is the only member of Australia's 15-man Test squad not featuring in this round of the Shield, with the 38-year-old addressing a minor adductor strain.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.