Sheffield Shield 1999

Round 6 Reports

NEW SOUTH WALES "Blues"
1st XI - Manager: Brad Hicks	2nd XI - Manager: Wally Cowan
	We expected a very tough game from Victoria and we got it. They batted first and made 340 with Foster making a very good 161. Our fast bowlers were superb with Simon Cook getting 5/91 and Brett Lee getting 4/75. Our spinners were a bit disappointing but keeper Brad Haddin was superb taking 7 catches without conceding any byes. We then batted and we were disappointed that we could only reach 311. Our batsmen all made starts but no one went on to make a really big score. Victoria batted again and we really needed to contain them. This time they could only make 122 as Cook, Lee and Sutherland took 3 wickets each. We only needed to make 152 to win but the Vics stayed in the game making us fight for our win. Next week we play South Australia who have moved into 3rd place. They will need to beat us if they want to make the final so we are expecting another tough game.

QUEENSLAND "Bulls"
1st XI - Manager: Tony Noyeaux	2nd XI - Manager: Bradley Ashcroft
	Well, once again Tassie whooped us - they seen to be unbeatable. We performed badly with bat and ball and, as usual, our fielding wasn't any good - we drop more catches than we hold. Perren's 40 was the only batting highlight. Pascoe is our only bowler doing anything respectable, taking 4 wickets in Tassie's only innings. Two injuries in the squad for this match will put us down again and keep us in last, so only a miracle can get us a win against WA 2nd XI.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA "Redbacks"
1st XI - Manager: Trevor Hansford	2nd XI - Manager: Tyrone Marshall
Well, South Australia lost yet again. SA have shown no reason why they should have any chance of beating the top of the table NSW Blues. However, South Australia appear to now only have pride to play for, so an upset, though unlikely, may happen. Greg Blewett returns after injury, which should help the batting.	50-50 IN S.A. GLORY CHASE As the short Sheffield Shield season starts its final descent, the South Australian 2nd XI team are winding up for there title push. Lying in third place after 6 matches, with 4 to go and a deficit of 65 points from high flying Tasmania, the SA 2nd XI coach Marshall knows this will not be easy. With his batsmen still playing some fabulous strokes and innings, and his bowlers still mis-firing, there is a lot of hard graft to be done before coach Marshall can pick up his first piece of silverware in just his first season here. This week SA are away at NSW, the team one place above them, and a win there could really get the ball rolling.

TASMANIA "Tigers"
1st XI - Manager Elect: John Clifford	2nd XI - Manager: Dave Hickey
	After two unconvincing wins, the Tasmania 2nd XI lifted their game to soundly beat last-placed Queensland by an innings and 145 runs. In a rare outburst, Tasmania manager Dave Hickey blasted the media over the constant speculation in recent weeks about him leaving his young team. It was widely expected that after his success with the 2nd XI that Hickey would be taking over the senior Tasmania side. There were also rumours circulating that he had been approached by Western Australia. "The stories in the paper didn't help - the boys kept asking if I was going to desert them. It affected their morale and their form but to their credit they came back strongly this week," Hickey said. Hickey confirmed that he had, in fact, been offered other managerial positions. "But I accepted this job at the start of the season and I intend to honour that commitment," he added. The match started well for Tasmania, dismissing Queensland for just 120, with Shannon Tubb taking 5/30. Tasmania replied with 408, Andrew Dykes top-scoring with 107, with good support coming from Todd Pinnington (63), Scott Mason (54) and Tony Daly (53). The bowlers then wrapped the match up with Tubb taking another 4 wickets as Queensland collapsed for just 143. With four rounds remaining, Tasmania this week will travel to Melbourne to play Victoria. "They were in 3rd place up until this week, so they will be very keen to advance their playoff chances. We will be watching them closely," said Hickey.

VICTORIA "Bushrangers"
1st XI - Manager: "Westie"	2nd XI - Manager: Christo McDonald
Another loss to us and we just don't know what's going wrong - we have a strong batting line up and a even stronger bowling attack. Maybe things will change for us soon. Team Morale seems to be a problem at the moment but with a couple of wins this should change but we are running out of time.	This week is a must win week for us. If we lose we can kiss the final goodbye. But one will have to see how the Tasmania 2nd XI goes with a new coach. Our captain, Michael Foster, getting into the act again with a big hundred. We had a disappointing 2nd innings - 122 all out, letting NSW in at the back door. We give them a much tougher match this time. I'm looking to see what we can do against Tasmania 2nd XI this week, with a much improved bowling attack than our first round game against me.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA "Warriors"
1st XI - Manager Elect: David McMullen	2nd XI - Manager Elect: Peter Nocerini
	CHANGING WINDS FOR WARRIORS Threatening clouds rolled around the Western Warriors 2nd team's offices last week. They came from the outside edges of Cyclone Vance, which, thankfully, only blew around for a while and then blew out of town, leaving only puddles behind. It allowed the new brain trust of the Warriors to make plans for the rest of the Sheffield Shield season. Immediately after his long flight from the U.S., the new brains behind the Warriors, Peter Nocerini, watched from the Lilac Hill pavilion as the Warriors chased a 504-run target against South Australia and came within 35 before David Hussey mistimed a googly and popped an easy catch to long on. Despite the heartbreakingly close loss, Nocerini said he liked what his team showed against the Redbacks. "They set us a big target, but we showed determination and patience and almost pulled off a big win." "Make no mistake - a loss is a loss. But I saw a team that's right on the verge of turning it around." He praised the work of Hussey, whose 172 included 100 run partnerships with Rob Baker and Jamie Stewart. "That's the kind of effort we need. I haven't even met the lads yet, but I want to tell them thanks." "We lost the match," he continued, "because of those two long partnerships in SA's second innings, particularly 246 runs for the third wicket. We just can't do that if we want to win. Easier said than done, of course, but we have to maintain the confidence and determination that I saw at times today." Nocerini, who lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, was named general for the Warriors 2nd team just after the completion of the Frozen North Cricket League season. He managed the West Indies side out of a first half slump and into third place in the eight-team league. Then he guided them to the championship match of a one-off post-season tournament, beating regular season champs Zimbabwe along the way. "I think ownership here noticed that and want me to do the same down here. Well, if that's the task, I think I'm up for it. It's late in the season, but I think our team can gain a place or two in the standings." The new manager said he has named Mark Lavender as his captain. "He's Lavender, and we play at Lilac Hill," he said, "so what could be more appropriate?" Chris Rogers has impressed him, and he'll be given a chance as an opener, with Marcus North moved to No 3. The heart of the lineup will remain Hussey, Baker and Steven Glew. "I'm sticking with them," he said. "They have a lot of talent. All they need is more patience and mental toughness." "Our bowlers have to keep up the attack and not let up, plus we really have to improve our fielding. We're working hard on that." The team's first challenge will be in Queensland this weekend. "The Bulls just got hammered by Tasmania last week, and they're angry. Plus they're playing before their home fans, so they want to show that they're made of sterner stuff." "That may be, but they're going to see a tougher Warriors team. This is where we start turning things around."