Adelaide Oval
1:45pm Wednesday February 18
In the end it came down to tiebreakers to decide who got to host this game, but these two teams finished two games clear of the rest.
How They Got Here:
Victoria
454044-5004
Queensland
0600454-560
The Bushrangers cruised through to the break with five wins out of six to take a 2 point competition lead into the Big Bash break, despite every other team having played at least one more game. When they returned they were without Hussey and White for most of the games, with Hodge, Nannes, McDonald, Rogers and McKay all missing a game or two through injury. They took a bonus point while missing only Hussey and Hodge against the Redbacks, but then lost two and, with that, the control of the hosting rights.
The Bulls had a bad start with 3 losses in their first 4 games, with only a double bonus point in the second game kept them in it in mid-November, when they started a five game winning streak that was ended in Adelaide on Wednesday. That second game was one of six Bulls games this year that have involved bonus points - twice they took 2, twice they took 1, and twice they conceded 1. The second of those double bonus point wins was when they met Victoria nine days ago, knocking them over for 95 at the G, but one of those bonus point losses was at the Gabba back in October, when Victoria overhauled a mediocre target in the 39th over.
Final Points Table:
30 Victoria
30 Queensland
23 South Australia
20 Tasmania
16 Western Australia
15 New South Wales
Teams:
Both sides have named squads of 13 with doubt over Shane Harwood's chest and Andrew Symonds' knee. Harwood is the competition's leading wicket taker with 22, one more than the Blues' Aaron Bird, two more than the Bulls' Victorian-born Ben Laughlin, and eight more than the rest. Already ruled out of the Victorian side is Dirk Nannes, who while not having had the greatest FRC season, is their fifth leading wicket taker in the competition, with Test absentees Andrew McDonald and Bryce McGain two of those ahead of him. So a lot falls to Clint McKay if Harwood is out, as he would have 11 of the 21 wickets the remaining 12-man squad has taken all season (Wright 3, Holland 3, Hastings 2, White 1, Hussey 1) for the year. England fast bowler Darren Pattinson comes in for his first 50 over game of the season, with Jon Holland and Damien Wright the spots recently occupied by Nannes, McGain and possibly Harwood. The batting is strengthened by the return of Hussey and White, Matthew Wade makes way for one, while the other could replace either Aaron Finch, or one of those bowlers if they're comfortable getting 10 overs out of the two 'all rounders'.
If Andrew Symonds is passed fit, somebody has to make way. Clinton Perren is the Bulls' second highest run scorer in this competition (200 behind competition leader Lee Carseldine), but has only one fifty and a strike rate of just 57, although that 50 came against the Vics, with 35 in their other meeting. He seems the only batsman who can make way, but Swan, Noffke, Rimmington, Laughlin, Hopes, Simpson and possibly Carseldine and Symonds may be more bowling options than are required. Rimmington took 2/43 on Wednesday but perhaps he is the first out since he's the last in. If Symonds isn't passed fit it's Glen Batticciotto who may get one of those spots - he has only been dismissed once while scoring 68 off 70 balls this season, but hasn't had enough opportunity to consolidate his spot.
Victoria XIII:
Rob Quiney
Chris Rogers
Brad Hodge
David Hussey
*Cameron White
Aaron Finch
+Adam Crosthwaite
John Hastings
Damien Wright
Clint McKay
Shane Harwood
Darren Pattinson
Jon Holland
In:
David Hussey
Cameron White
Darren Pattinson
Jon Holland
Out:
Matthew Wade (dropped)
Bryce McGain (Australia)
Dirk Nannes (side)
Queensland XIII:
Ryan Broad
James Hopes
Lee Carseldine
Andrew Symonds
Nathan Reardon
Clinton Perren
Glen Batticciotto
+Chris Hartley
Ashley Noffke
*Chris Simpson
Nathan Rimmington
Chris Swan
Ben Laughlin
In:
Andrew Symonds
Glen Batticciotto
Recent History:
February 11, 2009 @ Melbourne
Queensland won by 135 runs
Queensland 9/230 (50)
Simpson 39 (39)
McKay 3/22 (10)
Harwood 3/58 (10)
Victoria 95 (36.3)
Hodge 25 (42)
Laughlin 3/14 (7) MOTM
Rimmington 3/15 (8)
October 26, 2008 @ Brisbane
Victoria won by 7 wickets
Queensland 9/222 (50)
Reardon 54 (68)
Perren 52 (96)
Harwood 2/18 (8)
Victoria 3/227 (38.4)
Quiney 73 (63) MOTM
Hussey 50* (52)
Simpson 1/29 (6)
February 6, 2008 @ Melbourne
Victoria won by 7 wickets
Queensland 214 (48.4)
Simpson 42 (49)
McKay 3/42 (8.4)
McGain 2/29 (10)
Victoria 3/209 (43) (D/L Target: 209 from 47)
Hodge 119* (134) MOTM
White 64* (82)
Brant 2/23 (6)
November 23, 2007 @ Brisbane
Queensland won by 50 runs
Queensland 243 (48.1)
Perren 60 (75)
Philipson 42 (51)
Hastings 3/50 (10)
Victoria 193 (45.4)
Hodge 50 (67)
Crosthwaite 43 (68)
Carseldine 2/15 (6)
February 25, 2007 @ Melbourne (2006-07 Final)
Queensland won by 21 runs
Queensland 5/274 (50)
Maher 108 (133) MOTM
Perren 75 (92)
Pattinson 2/49 (10)
Victoria 9/253 (50)
McDonald 65* (64)
Hussey 62 (72)
Nye 3/55 (10)
Weather:
Sunny, 29 degrees
Session Times
First innings: 2:15-5:45pm
Second innings: 6:15-9:45pm
Coverage:
Cricket Australia's scorecard and commentary
Cricinfo's scorecard and commentary
Tickets:
Adults - $10
Concession/Children - $5
Family - $15
(AFL Members half price, MCC visitors add 20%)
(Free with validated Metcard)
(Gate open 1:15)
