Sydney Cricket Ground
10:30am Saturday March 15-Wednesday March 19
The cricket season comes to an end, and while it’s upset the NRL plans to hold a game here on Sunday, it’s over just in time for the AFL season to commence on Thursday. While WA made a late run they’ve been the best two sides all year. Nothing separating these two teams this year with 6 outright wins each, along with one lot of first innings points, while they split the first innings points when they met here a month ago. The good news for Victoria is their first innings points came the other time they met New South Wales, the bad news is they can win the first innings by 600 runs and it won’t do them any good. Further bad news is New South Wales have not been beaten outright all season, and the only point taken by a visiting team at the SCG this season was that one Victoria picked up.
New South Wales have regained Test players Michael Clarke, Nathan Bracken, Brett Lee and Stuart Clark, which sounds like more bad news for the Vics, but Brett Lee has a poor recent record for the Blues, with 29 wickets at 31 in his 6 games not against useless sides South Australia and an understrength New Zealand side since his Test career began. Matthew Nicholson saw the writing on the wall and retired after last week’s game rather than wait for the selectors to tell him he wasn’t going to be playing, while Beau Casson’s 99 may’ve been what they needed to see to give him the number 7 spot over more recognised all rounder Grant Lambert, and fast bowler Mark Cameron – who despite having a good season has only played 4 games in the competition. Michael Clarke replaces Usman Khawaja in another obvious change though it is a little surprising, but good for cricket, that they’ve gone with a five man attack in a game they don’t have to win.
Victoria have recalled injury prone quicks Peter Siddle and Shane Harwood with Darren Pattinson omitted in a game where they need 20 wickets, something they haven’t been able to do against good teams New South Wales or Western Australia this season (New South Wales have achieved that in both games against WA and the Victorian game at the SCG). On form it should be Harwood who misses out on the XI assuming they stick with three quicks, Andrew McDonald’s medium pace, Bryce McGain’s leg spin and the middle order’s part time tweaking options. While those spinners have been useful in one day cricket this year, their combined 7/325 wouldn’t have New South Wales overly worried on day 5, especially with Clarke and Haddin in the team. Siddle’s been great for Victoria when he has been able to get on the park, with a 5-fer in three of his four games. McKay’s come in late and lead the attack with seven wickets last week but took only three wickets in the two games before that – and is the only one 100% fit. Dirk Nannes has been solid all year with 19 wickets in 4 games despite no big hauls, and bowls with the other arm. If Harwood does play, one will be justifiably pissed off. No Gerard Denton as his ankle isn’t up to four or five days of cricket, which makes the selectors’ job a little less difficult, with the choice between Rob Quiney, Lloyd Mash or an extra bowler and makeshift opener also going to give them a few headaches.
Simon Katich and David Hussey’s last chance to impress in four day cricket before the West Indies tour, where one is likely to go as reserve batsman, while Nathan Bracken, Bryce McGain and Beau Casson are possibilities as backup bowlers, and Stuart MacGill probably only has to get through unscathed to make the XI for Kingston but if he bowls rubbish and McGain or Casson takes 10, who knows.
New South Wales XIII:
Phil Jaques, Phillip Hughes, *Simon Katich, Michael Clarke, Dominic Thornely, +Brad Haddin, Grant Lambert, Beau Casson, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Stuart MacGill, Mark Cameron
Victoria XIII:
Rob Quiney, Lloyd Mash, Nick Jewell, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, *Cameron White, Andrew McDonald, +Adam Crosthwaite, Clint McKay, Shane Harwood, Peter Siddle, Bryce McGain, Dirk Nannes
Weather:
Fine, mid 20s
Session Times:
First session: 10:30am-12:30pm
Second session: 1:10-3:10pm
Third session: 3:30-5:30pm
(Gates open 9:30)
Coverage:
Cricket Victoria’s live webcast brought to you by
Bits and pieces of the first couple of days on Grandstand in between NRL games, AFL preview shows and F1 on the radio
Cricket Australia’s scorecard
SCG Webcams:
Tickets:
Adults - $10
Concession/Children - $5
(Weekend free if wearing a shirt featuring a cricket club’s logo)
Betting:
New South Wales – $2
Victoria – $3.20
Draw - $3.50
Highest Opening Partnership
New South Wales - $1.60
Victoria - $2.25
NSW Most First Innings Runs
Katich - $4
Clarke - $4.50
Jaques - $5
Hughes - $6.50
Haddin - $7
Thorneley - $9
Lambert - $17
Casson - $34
Lee - $41
Victoria Most First Innings Runs
Hodge - $3.75
Hussey - $4
White - $5.50
Jewell - $6
Quiney - $6.50
Mash - $7
McDonald - $7
Crosthwaite - $15
McKay - $34
- TAB Sportsbet