Double ton gives Tigers the edge

FORMER Test batsman Alex Doolan crafted a magnificent double-century for Tasmania in its Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the MCG yesterday, putting the Tigers in the box seat to win their first game of the season.

However, Doolan’s brilliance denied teammate Matthew Wade much-needed time at the crease ahead of the first Ashes Test against England at the Gabba next week.

Doolan was unbeaten on 247 as Tasmania declared at 2-424 early in the last session.

Wade was due to bat at No.5 but was forced to watch Doolan and Tim Paine (71 not out) dig their heels in.

Doolan batted for almost nine hours, facing 380 balls, on the way to his second doublecentury in first-class cricket and the second-highest score of the Shield season.

Tasmanian skipper George Bailey (59) was caught at gully by Travis Dean off the bowling of Chris Tremain.

National selectors met in Brisbane yesterday to pick Australia’s side for the first two Ashes Tests.

NSW gloveman Peter Nevill is tipped to be picked ahead of Wade, whose 17 against Queensland was his only score in double figures from five shield innings.

Test No.6 hopeful Glenn Maxwell batted at No.3 for Victoria and was unbeaten on 20 at stumps. Maxwell has the advantage of incumbency, the backing of several former greats and a recent Test century to his name.

But if the 29-year-old wasn’t already nervous about his prospects, Cameron Bancroft’s undeniable 228 not out for Western Australia would likely have done the trick.

TASMANIA is in the box seat to take outright points today in the Sheffield Shield match against reigning champion Victoria at the MCG.

Former Test batsman Alex Doolan scored an unbeaten double century yesterday as the Tigers asserted dominance on day three.

Time proved to be the enemy of Ashes hopefuls Matthew Wade and Glenn Maxwell as Tasmania set the foundations for a big win.

The visitors declared their second innings at 2-424 just after tea yesterday and had Victoria struggling at 2-67 in reply, requiring 386 for victory.

Bad light stopped play in the final over before stumps when Maxwell was unbeaten on 20 and in a solid position, having spent more than an hour at the crease.

The question is whether it will be too late to make any difference to his chances of batting at No.6 in the Ashes, particularly with rain forecast for today in Melbourne.

National selectors were due to meet last night in Brisbane to pick Australia’s side for the first two Ashes Tests.

The team will be named tomorrow and Maxwell was unsure whether the XI would already be set in stone.

“I have no idea what direction they’re going to go in,” he said. “We’ve obviously seen Cameron Bancroft perform extremely well over in the west and a few guys have put their hands up — I think that’s what [the selectors] asked for but who knows what they’re going to do?”

If Maxwell wasn’t already nervous about his prospects, Bancroft’s double ton for Western Australia on Tuesday was likely to have done the trick. It is increasingly difficult to see how selectors can overlook the highly rated Bancroft after his barnstorming shield campaign.

Doolan (247 n.o.) and Tim Paine (71 n.o.) combined to deny Test wicketkeeper Wade a final chance to make runs before the Ashes.

Wade had been due in at No.5 but was forced to watch as Doolan occupied the crease for just short of nine hours.

Doolan faced 380 balls on the way to his second double century in first-class cricket and the highest score of the Shield season so far.