Heazlett’s fighting ton secures draw
BULLS young gun Sam Heazlett has given national selectors a timely reminder of his talent after rescuing Queensland with a century in Adelaide yesterday.
Heazlett’s second first-class ton, an unbeaten 118 from 356 balls, helped 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 clash was declared a draw, with Queensland holding an 83-run lead at 6-357.
Heazlett, 23, burst on to the international scene last year with a 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.’’
Despite avoiding a second loss to start the summer, the Bulls are sitting last on the Shield ladder after two rounds.
Their title defence is looking shaky, largely because of 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.
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.