Tigers horror show
THE Tasmanian Tigers have been humbled for just 63 against Western Australia at the WACA in Perth, their lowest score since joining the Sheffield Shield cricket competition in 1977. At one stage they were 9-35.
IT was supposed to be a new start, but Tasmania plumbed to new depths in a record low total in a humbling display in the worst possible start to its Sheffield Shield resurrection.
A new coach, new support staff, new high-performance manager and new administration, but the same old embarrassing loss for the Tigers as they were bundled out for 63.
After consecutive wooden-spoons resulting in the sacking of favourite son Dan Marsh, this was supposed to be the start of a new dawn.
Instead it was the state’s lowest Sheffield Shield score in 40 years of competition on way to a 301-run defeat at the hands of Western Australia in Perth, worse than the 76 against NSW set in 1992.
Even this paltry total was boosted by a 28-run lastwicket stand after the Tigers fell to 9-35 — with a team containing four players with Test match experience — George Bailey, Alex Doolan, Matthew Wade and Jackson Bird.
It was coach Adam Griffith’s first Shield game in charge and he made no excuses for the capitulation.
“Really disappointing is probably an understatement,” Griffith said.
“You question what you do, but this group has been in this position unfortunately before over the last few years.
“We have to find a way to change that mindset. It’s just about the contest and putting your hand up and saying you are going to compete. We didn’t do that today.”
Wade did not enhance his case to hold his place for the first Ashes Test with scores of one and six, although such was the Tigers poor second innings, it was the equal second top score.
Fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile’s heroics with bat and ball helped Western Australia to an emphatic final day victory. After adding a quickfire 70 to move to 9-272 for a lead of 364, Coulter-Nile (3-18), debutant Matt Kelly (1-7) and emerging Simon Mackin (3-20) ripped through the Tigers line-up.
After knocks of 42 and 52, the imposing quick bowled full and moved the pink ball around, trapping Jake Doran (4) and Doolan (0) leg before.
Coulter-Nile then took a brilliant lowdown catch off his bowling to dismiss Tigers captain Bailey for three.
Tasmania was 4-13 and then 6-25 when Wade was caught behind off Mackin for six and Ben McDermott was another lbw victim for a duck.
The rout continued with Sam Rainbird (4) run out, Gabe Bell (0) caught behind off Mackin, Jackson Bird (1) bowled and Andrew Fekete (6) was run out. Beau Webster fought to be unbeaten on 33.