Tasmanian opener Jake Weatherald’s second innings in Melbourne could determine the Australian line-up for the opening Ashes Test after Matt Renshaw missed a golden opportunity to put on a big stand with incumbent opener Usman Khawaja.
Renshaw and Weatherald, who made a duck on Tuesday, are thought to be neck and neck in the race for the other opening spot with the Test squad set to be picked at the conclusion of this round of matches.
Weatherald has an excellent chance to make a statement in the final innings as Tasmania chase an outright victory over Victoria.
Renshaw put on a 94-run opening partnership with Khawaja which could prove to be a dress rehearsal for the first Ashes Test.
While Khawaja passed 50 on day three at the Gabba, Renshaw (29 off 78) will be kicking himself after he chopped on despite trying to take his bat away against Jack Edwards who claimed his scalp from around the wicket.
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.
In Melbourne, Victorian opener Campbell Kellaway underlined his status as a rising star with a century of his own as the home team put their foot down against Tasmania.
Kellaway, 22, knocked out his third first class hundred before being out for 147 after tea on day three as part of a 195-run stand with former Test opener Marcus Harris, who was closing in on his own hundred in a reminder of what he‘s capable of.
The Vics pushed their lead past 300 late on day three looking to make it three wins from three matches to start the season.
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.‘’
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