Tassie can’t buy a run as big shield clash looms BATTING AVERAGE

THE batting cupboard is looking worryingly thin for Tasmania ahead of next week’s home Sheffield Shield match after the state’s second XI side crumbled in similar fashion to the Gabba debacle.

Just days after the Tigers lost to Queensland by 10 wickets — having been routed for 78 on a greentop on day one and slumping to 3-0 in the second innings — the second XI followed suit against South Australia. Tasmania could only muster 72 after being asked to bat first on Monday on another bowler-friendly pitch, eventually succumbing to a six-wicket loss early on day three.

Shield hopeful Mac Wright topscored in the second innings with 40 after falling for a 16-ball duck in the first dig.

The state’s batting group again failed to handle the tough conditions.

Though conceding the coin toss played a big role in the outcome of the clash at Glenelg Oval, second XI coach Ali de Winter was reluctant to blame the conditions.

“Our top six was pretty young and we knew it would be pretty challenging for them, the conditions on top of that here were pretty difficult, it was a pretty green wicket, the game was almost determined by the toss of the coin, which is never ideal,” de Winter said.

“But having said that we have still got to find a method to play in the conditions you are presented with. It is never easy at Bellerive, that’s kind of what we were dealt with here.

“No one passed 50 in the game for us, some of the things we talk about in terms of our

KPIs we didn’t meet again. The bottom line is, we just have to get better in conditions like this. It is not about changing techniques, it is about finding a method to play in the conditions you are presented with, whether it is a green wicket, a spinning wicket, whether it is bouncy or flat and the ball is reverse swinging.

“You have to always find a method and that’s the challenge and something they [the batsmen] have to own.”

One shining light from the match was Big Bash sensation Nathan Ellis, who enhanced his claims for a red-ball state debut. Ellis took 4-32 and 2-21 to put himself in the shield frame. “He bowled fast, he keeps presenting as a viable option in all formats now,” de Winter said of Ellis.

Tasmania hosts WA at Blundstone Arena, starting on Monday.