Heazlett stands tall in SA struggle

BULLS young gun Sam Heazlett has given national selectors a timely reminder of his talent after rescuing Queensland with a gritty century in Adelaide yesterday.

Heazlett had to work hard for his second first-class ton, racking up an unbeaten 118 from 356 balls, to help Queensland snatch a draw in their Sheffield Shield match against South Australia.

Heazlett was 41 not out heading into the last day of the match and batted all day before the match was eventually declared a draw, with Queensland holding an 83-run lead at 6-357.

Heazlett, 23, controversially burst on to the international scene last year after he was picked to make his one day international debut for Australia against New Zealand despite a limited domestic career.

He made four on debut in January and has not been sighted in Australian colours since.

But his stoic knock yesterday was proof of the Brisbane product’s talent and Heazlett said it was one of his most significant innings.

“That’s a long innings,” he said.

“I just kept it pretty simple. I kept trying to watch the ball and didn’t really change much.

“Fortunately it all clicked. It was a good wicket to bat on once you got through the new ball.”

Despite avoiding a second loss to start the summer, the Bulls are sitting last on the Sheffield Shield ladder after two rounds.

Their title defence is looking shaky, largely due to some poor batting performances, but Heazlett said the gutsy draw could lift the Bulls.

At the root of Queensland’s batting problems is the form of Test aspirants Matt Renshaw, Joe Burns and Marnus Labuschagne.

Renshaw was rolled for three and a duck in his first Shield match of the summer after being overlooked for the two Tests against Pakistan.

Test incumbent Labuschagne’s spot in the baggy green is looking wobbly after scores of three and 28 for Queensland, although he has a few more opportunities to impress selectors before the series against India.

“I’m really happy to fight out the draw for the team,” Heazlett said.

“We always want to win games but from the position we were in it was always going to be pretty tough.

“It was good everyone chipped in the second innings to fight out the draw.”