Even though the final day was abandoned without a ball being bowled, the drawn Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and South Australia at the MCG should give the national selectors plenty to consider.
Peter Handscomb, James Pattinson and Scott Boland were key contributors in Victoria’s bid for a third successive outright victory.
The home side needed just 102 runs with eight wickets in hand but heavy rain early in the day led to the match being called at tea.
Victorians inspect the MCG after heavy rain delayed play.Credit:AAP
The Vics can consider themselves unfortunate not to extract maximum points from a contest where they largely out-played their opponents.
‘‘It’s frustrating but that’s what can happen,’’ Handscomb said.
The biggest take-away from a national perspective was the continued good form of Handscomb, who pushed his case for a Test recall against India next month with a brilliant first-innings century.
The right-hander, having scored four one-day cup half-centuries in a row, dug in and batted with poise and determination to make 123 with the match delicately balanced on day two.
‘‘I’m feeling good mentally and physically,’’ he said. ‘‘But it’s a funny game … you can go from highs to lows in cricket pretty quickly so I’m just enjoying it.
SA skipper Jake Lehmann won the toss, but his side was bowled out for 244 on day one – losing 6-13 at one stage – despite a fighting 118 by Tom Cooper.
Boland, who last appeared in the ODI team in 2016, gave his chances of a return a boost with a blistering spell to finish with figures of 7-54.
He ended the match with nine wickets to lead all Shield bowlers with 24 after three matches.
The home side made 351 in reply to lead by 107 runs, with Handscomb’s knock a highlight.
After his unbeaten 250 last week against NSW, Test hopeful Marcus Harris made it to 315 runs without dismissal, before he was out for 65.
Opener Conor McInerney (63) top-scored in the Redbacks’ second innings total of 230, but Pattinson was the star of the show.
In his first Shield game since the 2016-17 final and major back surgery last November, the quick ripped through the top order – dispatching Callum Ferguson, Tom Cooper and Lehmann – to finish with figures of 3-24 in an encouraging return.
Victoria were 2-22 at stumps on day three before they were denied by the weather.
‘‘If I’m being honest Victoria probably played three days of better cricket and we’re lucky that it rained today,’’ Lehmann said. ‘‘For us it’s probably a bit of a get out of jail but it keeps the competition open.’’
Despite the result, Victoria remain almost 10 points clear on top of the Shield table, while SA is fourth after three draws from three matches.
In Brisbane, there was no shortage of runs – or Test claims – in Queensland’s draw with Western Australia.
While Mitch Marsh, Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns made selectors sit up and take notice, incumbent Marnus Labuschagne will be sweating on his future ahead of next month’s first Test against India after a double failure on a flat Allan Border Field deck.
Defending champions Queensland are without a Shield win this season after their third round clash with the second placed Warriors fizzled to a draw.
The match was called off early in the last session of the final day with the second last placed Bulls 2-135 in their second dig, Burns was 80 not out as the hosts led by 43.
WA batsman Will Bosisto was named man of the match after his career high 167 not out helped the Warriors post 540 in their first innings while Test allrounder Marsh struck 151.
Former Australian openers Burns and Renshaw provided selectors food for thought ahead of the India series with Burns also hitting 49 in the Bulls’ first innings which featured Renshaw’s fine 89.
‘‘I am hitting the ball well. Every game is a chance to push for Australian selection,’’ Burns said.
Earlier, Bosisto was the last man standing when WA were finally dismissed with an unlikely 92-run first innings lead. His 377-ball knock featuring 22 fours was his second ton of his 19-game first class career.
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