Sheffield Shield 1999
Round 5 Reports
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NSW returned to the winner's circle again this week after an easy win over Queensland. As expected spirits are high and apart from that we've had a pretty non-eventful week with everything running to schedule.
QUEENSLAND - Manager: Tony Noyeaux
After two weeks of debacling play, the Bulls coach has decided to make a change, dropping out of form batsmen Foley, bringing up some extra attack in the bowling with Creevey. The Bulls are still sticking with Dawes, despite his awful form, but even his time could be up if he doesn't start to perform.
No doubt, fielding and bowling has been letting this team down of late. Hopefully Creevey's extra spark will bring about some positive changes.
It is not at all sure whether we shall see Foley back in the top grade, hopefully he'll put some lengthy time in the nets and get himself right for the top grade again.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Manager: Trevor Hansford
South Australia's poor form continued with yet another loss. Manager Trevor Hansford said that he would not make many changes though many players are on their last chance. When asked what was the main reason for the loss he said not being able to take early wickets.
TASMANIA - Manager: Nick Rogers
VICTORIA - Manager: "Westie"
Well, what can you say about Elliott? No one can say that he isn't one of the best batsman around - with 188 and 109no I don't even have words to say just how good this man is and let's not forget Vimpani with 153 and 66. It really was a two man game out there. The rest of our batsmen will have to look hard at themselves and find something for the team as Elliott and Vimpani won't be able to do that every match. Williams and Reiffel were the two bowlers that stood out with 5 wickets to Hodge in the match. That was the win that we needed and now we have to go to Sydney to show New South Wales what we can do. Warne is back in the team and he is looking forward to getting some good spin out of the wicket. We have changed the batting order around for this game to try to take some pressure off some of the players that aren't making the runs. We are still down one bowler with Fleming out through Injury but we think with Hodge's very handy off spin and with Reiffel and Williams in great form we should come off with a win.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA - Manager: Chris Rogers
NEW SOUTH WALES 2nd XI - Manager: Wally Cowan
Great performances from Mark Higgs and Simon Cook helped us to a convincing win over last-placed Queensland last week. It is really important to win these matches if we wish to make the final. We are now in 2nd place, 31 points clear of 3rd placed Victoria, who we meet next week. We are currently 24 points behind Tasmania and we will be very keen to close the gap when we meet Tasmania in Round 8. But before that we have home games against Victoria and South Australia which we will need to win to stay safely in 2nd place.
QUEENSLAND 2nd XI - Manager: Bradley Ashcroft
"169 all out and 251 all out just isn't good enough boys!" That's what I told the players after the loss last week. The match did bring a few good spots for us. We thought we would open with some off spin and it paid off as Jackson finally had some form taking 5/91 in the NSW 1st innings. And again Pascoe had a good match with six wickets in the match. He is really our only consistent bowler this season, taking 29 wickets. Batting wise Carseldine continued to impress getting 95 in our 2nd innings, his 4th 50 this season. Hopes playing his first match had 65 and 2 in his two innings so we don't know whether to play him again or not. Maybe if players like Perren and Dixon got a few more runs in this match we might not have had to chase so many. But all players have off weeks so they have their places in the side secured for the next match. Speaking of the next match, it's against Tassie who flogged us by an innings and 93 runs in Round 1 so we had better get our acts together if we want kick some Tassie butt.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2nd XI - Manager: Tyrone Marshall
TASMANIA 2nd XI - Manager: Dave Hickey
Tasmania have reached the halfway mark of the competition with their unbeaten status intact, but their performance against a struggling Western Australia team was far from impressive. "It was just one of those games where we all waited for someone else to do the hard work," said manager Dave Hickey. "I don't think we are complacent, but I do think that some of the guys are beginning to feel the strain of weekly matches."
Tasmania next week take on Queensland, hoping to repeat their convincing Round 1 win as they head towards the 2nd XI final. "They are struggling a little, so some of the boys will be looking to improve their form in this match," said Hickey.
VICTORIA 2nd XI - Manager: Christo McDonald
At last our captain, Michael Foster got amongst the runs and scored a big century (148). We know that he can produce more big innings in the second part of the season. He will need to if we want to play in the final. Our first match in the second part of the season is against NSW, to whom we lost badly by 10 wickets in our first match of the season. We are now much wiser and it is going to be an interesting match. NSW are unbeaten this season, the loss against Tasmania does not count as Tasmania is in a league of their own. Years of experience of cricket-league cricket. If one looks at the progress we have made, Victoria 2nd XI can still be in the final if we win this game. It would help if the most impossible thing happened like Queensland 2nd XI beating Tasmania 2nd XI. Remember, cricket is a funny game that way!
WESTERN AUSTRALIA 2nd XI - Manager: Dave Symes