Gabba, Brisbane
10am Friday November 30-Monday December 3
The Redbacks have won a four day game in Brisbane just twice in the last 25 years, and they’ve only beaten the Bulls anywhere three times in a decade – the last win was at the Gabba in 2001/02 with centuries to Lehmann, Blewett and Davies and a 7-fer for Mike Smith. None of them will get a chance to do that again with all now retired. Another win here will have the Redbacks within reach of the loser of the game at the G, but the weather doesn’t look like allowing an outright result. They welcome back Shaun Tait, replacing the out of sorts Cullen Bailey, while Shane Deitz is back in for Boof allowing Cosgrove to return to the middle order. Paul Rofe seems the likely 12th man despite bowling well against the Warriors. Nathan Adcock survives despite his batting average for the season still being in single figures, with Cameron Borgas making 150 in a 2nd XI game the pressure is back on the skipper.
Queensland have Symonds, Hopes and Noffke set to play assuming they pass fitness tests, while Michael Kasprowicz will make his comeback if he can get through another few hours without twinging something. Matthew Hayden won’t be playing as the Test team continue to find injuries to keep them out of domestic cricket, while Ryan Broad and Andy Bichel are also missing after suffering injuries in the previous Pura Cup game. With Greg Moller also on the sidelines Nick Kruger may be Hayden’s replacement, or they may put Maher back to the top with the only man to have scored more grade runs than Kruger this season, Lee Carseldine, to slot in the middle order. Aaron Nye is another option after he was the one to make way for the returning international players. Mitchell Johnson joins Noffke and Kasprowicz in the attack with Sullivan (finally) and Swan left out. Daniel Doran, another struggling leggie, is also in the side but it seems unlikely he’ll play in a game where Kevin Mitchell’s eyes will be glued to the radar screen for most of the first couple of days’ play, with Simpson and Symonds to bowl any required slow stuff.
Queensland XI:
Shane Watson, Nick Kruger, Clinton Perren, *Jimmy Maher, Aaron Nye, Chris Simpson, James Hopes, +Chris Hartley, Ashley Noffke, Daniel Doran, Mitchell Johnson, Michael Kasprowicz
South Australia XII:
Matthew Elliott, Shane Deitz, Callum Ferguson, Mark Cosgrove, *Nathan Adcock, Andy Delmont, +Graham Manou, Ryan Harris, Mark Cleary, Jason Gillespie, Dan Cullen, Paul Rofe, Shaun Tait
Weather:
Wet Friday, wetter Saturday, drier Sunday, dry Monday. Mid 20s
Radar
Session Times:
First session: 10am-12noon
Second session: 12:40-2:40pm
Third session: 3-5pm
(Gates open 9:30)
Ladder:
New South Wales – 20
Victoria – 18
Western Australia – 12
South Australia – 8
Tasmania – 6
Queensland – 4
(All played 4 games)
Coverage:
Cricket Australia’s scorecard
Tickets:
Adults/Students - $8
Pensioners/Children - $2
Family - $16
