Tasmanian opener Jake Weatherald blew his chance to surge ahead in the battle for the Ashes opening spot with another failure in Melbourne after Matt Renshaw also missed a golden opportunity to make his final stand.
Renshaw and Weatherald were thought to be neck and neck in the race to open the batting with Usman Khawaja in the opening Ashes Test with the squad set to be picked at the conclusion of this round of matches, with Mitch Marsh looming as a longshot pick.
But after making a first innings duck in Melbourne, Weatherald showed only marginal second innings improvement, lasting just 10 balls before being dismissed for 12 in his team’s chase of 354 for victory over Victoria.
The dual failures came as Victorian opener Campbell Kellaway underlined his status as a rising star with a huge century of his own as the home team put their foot down.
Kellaway, 22, knocked out his third first class hundred reaching 147 in a 269-ball effort, which included 16 fours and two sixes, finally out after having combined for a 195-run stand with former Test opener Marcus Harris, who brought up 33rd first class hundred, batting at number six, in a reminder of what he’s capable of.
Harris passed 8000 Shield runs and was unbeaten on 101 as the Vics declared at 5-330 late in the day, leaving Weatherald to try and survive for 30 minutes, which he failed to do.
It came after Renshaw put on a 94-run opening partnership with Khawaja which looked like a solid dress rehearsal for the first Ashes Test in Perth.
Khawaja was out for 87 in his final game before joining the Ashes squad, but Renshaw will be kicking himself after he chopped on for 29 in a 78 ball innings.
The left-hander hasn’t played Test cricket for two years but looked good in the recent ODI series where he hit a half-century in the final match in Sydney.
He’s had a strong start to the Sheffield Shield season and is one of the leading candidates to partner Khawaja at the top of the order after rivals Sam Konstas and Jake Weatherald both missed out with the bat this week.
The opener combination will be crucial for selectors when they pick the squad for the first Test in Perth next month, with fellow Queenslander Marnus Labuschagne also in good form this summer as he eyes off a spot in the top three.
After Renshaw was dismissed, red-hot Labuschagne, having all but secured his Test return with four hundreds in his previous five innings for his state, was out for just four.
DOGGETT LOOMS LARGE.
South Australian fast bowler Brendan Doggett says he’s “trying” not to think about a potential Ashes call-up after surging into contention to be in the squad with six wickets at the WACA.
Doggett, who was part of the World Test Championship squad earlier this year and set to tour the West Indies before suffering an injury, snared 6-48 for the reigning Sheffield Shield champs in the biggest bowling statement of the season so far.
Australia’s bowling depth could be tested against England, with Pat Cummins not available until the second Test at the earliest and his capacity to play the final four matches of the series could be impacted by his back issue.
Frontline fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have vowed to play as many games as needed but quick backups between the fourth and fifth Tests in Melbourne and Sydney loom as a challenge to that.
Scott Boland is skipping the third round of the Shield and looms as Cummins’ replacement in Perth, but Doggett could find himself in the extended squad when it’s named, with his efforts in Perth aiding his cause.
“There has been a little bit of noise but trying not to think about it,” Doggett said about his potential Ashes chances. “I just want to keep playing for South Australia and keep putting good performances together. I think that’s all I can control at the moment.”
The match is Doggett’s first Shield outing since taking 11 wickets in last summer’s final triumph, after which he headed to England. He suffered a hamstring injury on the eve of the domestic season but is now back up and running.
His efforts came as young tyro Sam Konstas all but eliminated himself from Ashes contention after being bowled for just 10 at the Gabba.
The poor return for the incumbent Test opener was made to look worse as NSW teammates Kurtis Patterson and Steve Smith both scored hundreds in a massive day for batters.
Patterson, who made 122, said the NSW players would get around 20-year-old Konstas, who looks all but certain to lose his spot in the Australian team.
“None of us have been through what Sam’s been through,‘’ Patterson said.
“We’re there for him. We’re always ready to chat and try and help him out.
“I actually thought last week in Melbourne he looked really well on a tough wicket down there.
“I think he’s lining the ball up. It was just a misjudgment today, that’s the game. But he’ll figure it out … we’ll put our arms around him and kind of keep helping him on the journey.‘’
Originally published as Campbell Kellaway, Marcus Harris makes hundreds but Matt Renshaw and Jake Weatherald miss out in Ashes audition
