Tigers face a thorny decision with Rose

THE Tigers are backing in a bowler who has not played for 3½ years to spin them to victory if required.

Left-arm orthodox spinner Clive Rose has been brought into the Tasmanian Sheffield Shield squad for the match against South Australia in Adelaide starting today.

Tigers shield coach Jeff Vaughan said with speedster Riley Meredith absent on Australia A duties, it will be between let-arm seamer Sam Rainbird, emerging quick Lawrence Neil-Smith or Rose as the replacement.

Despite being a Hurricanes regular during the BBL, 30year-old Rose has not played a first-class match since March 2016, against the same opposition at the same venue.

In his 10 first-class games for Victoria and Tasmania he has taken 22 wickets at an average of 49.

“We are very comfortable with Clive in our group,” Vaughan said. “Obviously we don’t play in spinning conditions at home terribly often, so half of our season we play in more seam-friendly conditions, but we are really pleased with the make-up of our group at the moment.

“Clive has come in and out of the group, he plays some one-day cricket for us and the Hurricanes so we are really pleased with where he’s at and what he brings to the group when he’s called on as well.”

But Vaughan said it could very well be a four-pronged pace attack with back up from Beau Webster, who he rates as better than just a part-time offspinner.

“With the advent of the drop-in it makes it [the Adelaide Oval] a little bit different and it doesn’t break up as it has done in the past,” he said.

“And historically pre-Big Bash there is a little bit more grass on the wicket as well.

“So it can be a bit of a mixture with a bit of grass on the wicket and then flatten out and spin later.”

Test skipper Tim Paine comes in after being rested from the win over Victoria in Hobart, replacing Jake Doran, while middle-order batsman Ben McDermott will also come straight back into the side having returned from his national duties for Australia against Pakistan in the triumphant Twenty20 series.

He replaces Charlie Wakim.

TIgers squad: Matthew Wade (capt), George Bailey, Gabe Bell, Jackson Bird, Alex Doolan, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Tim Paine, Alex Pyecroft, Sam Rainbird, Clive Rose, Beau Webster.