Plenty of positives to draw

TWO sporting declarations couldn’t help find a result but Tigers fast bowler Tom Rogers said his side took plenty of positives from its draw with NSW.

After rain-affected second and third days of the Sheffield Shield game between Tasmania and the Blues at the SCG, declarations from captains George Bailey and Peter Neville meant Tasmania needed 350 in its last innings to win.

“We wanted to take the game deep and see where we were at tea,” Rogers said. “At that point we had met our plan successfully with our top-four batters doing a great job by spending a lot of time at the crease in tough conditions.

“Unfortunately we lost a few wickets late in the game.

“We had to shut it up but another positive was that Jackson Bird came out and defended a half-hour of quality bowling.”

Alex Doolan continued his rich vein of form with 90 and Beau Webster was back to his best with a crucial 80 not out.

Tasmania take on Victoria next in the side’s first home match this season and Rogers said the Tigers were looking to make Blundstone Arena a fortress once again.

Last season Tasmania started the Sheffield Shield with a loss at home but then turned the oval into a real home-ground advantage, winning the next four games there.

“We’ve had three away games to start the year,” Rogers said.

“We are pretty intent on getting back to Blundstone Arena and playing our style of cricket and creating a fortress.”

Meanwhile, another team hoping to make a fortress out of Blundstone Arena is the Hobart Hurricanes who have announced Jackson Volkswagen as new sponsors.