Baggy Green Watch: Day two Shield wrap

It is arguably the biggest round of Sheffield Shield cricket for a generation with potentially up to seven spots up for grabs in Australia's Test team for the third Test.

Report & Highlights: Vics strike after Handscomb's double

Report & Highlights: Redbacks Test hopefuls fall in Bulls stampede

Report & Highlights: Tigers on top after Doolan's double

The incumbent Test XI, minus pacemen Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Joe Mennie, have all been sent back to the domestic competition in an effort to help them rediscover much-needed form and confidence after their series defeat to South Africa.

They will be joined by a host of young stars eager to push their case, with coach Darren Lehmann indicating mass changes are on the cards for the clash with the Proteas in Adelaide.

While Shaun (finger) and Mitchell Marsh (shoulder) played the opening Test against South Africa in Perth, both are now unavailable for selection due to injury. Here's how the Test incumbents, and the challengers, have fared in the ongoing round of Sheffield Shield.

THE INCUMBENTS

Joe Burns (4, dnb) - spent the morning in the changerooms and the afternoon in the field, likely hoping that he gets a shot to state his case if a second innings is required for the Bulls. 

David Warner (11) - after spending 160 overs in the field, Warner then had to pad up and front the new ball. A streaky boundary was followed by a powerful drive through point. His innings came to an end on 11 when he was caught at first slip and despite being disappointed, he will enjoy putting his feet up on Saturday.

Usman Khawaja (106, dnb) - an afternoon in the Brisbane heat for the skipper, but yesterday's hundred will mean he was resting a lot easier than teammate Burns. 

Steve Smith (8) - like Warner, Smith spent an eternity in the field watching Victoria’s batsmen cash in on a benign SCG pitch. When it was his turn to bat, the NSW and Australia captain slashed at a wide half-volley and was caught at first slip to depart for eight. With his Test spot assured, the skipper can hopefully unwind while his young teammates pile on the runs.

Adam Voges (16 retired hurt) - the veteran batsman's match was cut short after a sickening blow to the helmet on day one. It is the second serious concussion in the past six months for the 37 year old after a freak accident in English county cricket. Having posted scores of 27, 1, 0 and 2 so far in the series against the Proteas, the veteran's spot in the team is on shaky ground.

Callum Ferguson (4) - came and went within 15 deliveries and will be disappointed with his demise; chasing a wide, full delivery from Luke Feldman that swung even wider and was feathered through to Chris Hartley behind the stumps. Ferguson's past four knocks now read 0, 3, 1, 4 – a string of low scores at the most inopportune time imaginable.

Peter Nevill (2 catches, 1 stumping, dnb) - took a sharp catch early on the day one and was overall immaculate behind the stumps to send a reminder of his quality with the gloves, but the incumbent keeper-batsman will be desperate for runs as he seeks to end speculation about his place in the Test XI.

Nathan Lyon (0-141) - the off-spinner failed to take a wicket for the third innings in a row stretching back to the first innings in Perth against the Proteas. Lyon has now bowled 90 overs without tasting success, and will be desperate for another crack in this match before Sunday.

THE CHALLENGERS

New South Wales 

Moises Henriques (dnb, 0-56)
Recent form: 8, 41, 28, 11, 4, 4, 14, 25, 8, 145 (288 at 28.80)

The allrounder, who batted at No.5 in Australia’s third Test against Sri Lanka in August, bowled 14 wicketless overs in Sydney as Victoria's batsmen flourished.

Nic Maddinson (dnb)
Recent form: 0, 116, 81, 40, 6, 0, 0, 20, 27, 46 (336 at 33.60)

Known more for his power-hitting than his deft touch, Maddinson struck a patient century against Western Australia on a turning wicket in the Blues' last Sheffield Shield match and he will be hoping for more when NSW bat against Victoria.

Kurtis Patterson (28no)
Recent form: 28*, 13, 60, 38, 111, 25, 50*, 92, 6, 74 (497 runs at 62.13)

The 23-year-old walked to the crease with the Blues in trouble at 2-22. At stumps, Patterson was still there having defied the Bushrangers advances while ticking the scoreboard along nicely. His 66-ball stay includes four boundaries and looked untroubled against an attack with international experience.

Steve O'Keefe (1-107)
Recent form: 28 wickets at 19 (past 10 bowling innings)

Back in Shield cricket after recovering from finger and hamstring injuries, O'Keefe took just one wicket in Victoria’s mammoth innings. The left-arm spinner got through a lot of work on a pitch which is extremely batter-friendly. 

Queensland

Matt Renshaw (108, dnb)
Recent form: 108, 94, 25, 22, 10, 39, 20, 5, 31, 49 (403 at 40.30)

Like Burns and Khawaja, Renshaw had little involvement on day two, but one plus that won't have been missed by on-duty selector Greg Chappell was the fact that he took two regulation catches at first slip throughout the Redbacks' innings – a position currently filled by under-fire batsman Adam Voges. 

South Australia 

Travis Head (0-35, 37)
Recent form: 37, 43, 66, 2, 54, 1, 21, 192, 134, 0 (550 at 55.50)

Batted with his usual aggression and though it was entertaining while it lasted, it also proved his undoing when a big score looked in the offing. Head looked very much in control during his 43-ball knock, stroking six boundaries and dictating terms in his brief stay, but he'll be disappointed he failed to kick on, particularly given the importance of this Shield round.

Jake Lehmann (7)
Recent form: 7, 129*, 29, 116, 31, 58, 35*, 58, 35, 5 (503 at 62.88)

Seemed caught in two minds by Peter George when he inside-edged through to Hartley for seven. It was hardly the compelling case to selectors he'd have like to put forward, particularly given the situation was ready-made for a hero; South Australia were in strife at 3-52 when he walked to the middle.

Chadd Sayers (0-65)
Recent form: 23 wickets at 19.35 (past 10 bowling innings)

The Redbacks seamer carried the burden for his side alongside Kane Richardson in the absence of strike pair Dan Worrall and Joe Mennie, but failed to truly threaten on conditions that could have helped. He finished with 0-79 from 29 overs for the innings, and was sparingly used in the morning session as captain Travis Head quickly turned to spin. 

Tasmania 

George Bailey (24)
Recent form: 24, 142*, 6, 47, 64, 110*, 37, 4, 71, 62 (567 at 70.88)

The Tasmanian veteran with five Tests to his name, Bailey could only manage 24 off 45 with a pair of boundaries before being trapped in front by Simon Mackin. Former Test No.3 Alex Doolan made the most of the conditions to compile his maiden first-class double century.

Jackson Bird (2-60, 22)
Recent form: 20 wickets at 30.00 (past 10 bowling innings)

Australia's 12th man in Hobart, Bird did his chances of a recall no harm by taking 2-60 from 18 overs, including three maidens, as Tasmania bowled WA out for 262 on day one. With question marks surrounding his batting, Bird then posted 22 off 35 balls in his stint as nightwatchman.

Victoria

Travis Dean (134)
Recent form: 134, 0, 17, 26, 0, 1, 0, 54, 111, 0 (384 runs at 38.4)

The surprise packet of last domestic summer, Dean is a compact opener who prides himself on batting for long periods of time, and notched his fourth first-class century on Thursday, in just his 16th match. The opener failed to add to his overnight score, bowled from the third ball of day two.

Peter Handscomb (215)
Recent form: 215, 60, 78, 10, 87, 24, 137, 4, 14, 61* (690 at 76.67)

Quick Single: Handscomb in prime position for Test debut

A highly-rated 25-year-old, Handscomb starred with the bat as captain of Australia A during the winter and posted an a magnificent 215 against the Blues, his maiden first-class double-century.

Glenn Maxwell (10, 0-1)
Recent form: 10, 81, 13, 38, 0, 63, 79, 26, 62, 18* (390 at 43.33)

Contentiously left out of Victoria’s Shield opener, Maxwell returned to the Bushrangers XI for their win over Queensland and struck 81 in his only hit for the match. He'll be hoping for more when Victoria's innings resumes on Friday.

Marcus Stoinis (11, 0-32)
Recent form: 11, 4, 0, 2, 22, 14, 120, 72, 35, 16 (296 at 29.60)

A powerful batting allrounder who’s played a pair of limited-overs internationals for Australia, Stoinis made just 11 against the Blues before he was caught at slip off the bowling of Steve O'Keefe. In six overs of medium pace Stoinis couldn’t find a breakthrough.

Matthew Wade (6)
Recent form: 6, 3, 78, 26, 14, 2*, 25, 23, 21, 11 (209 at 23.22)

The Bushrangers captain was bogged down by Doug Bollinger before playing a wild cover-drive at a loose Trent Copeland half-volley to be caught at short cover. Not what he was after with the bat, but an exemplary display with the gloves can make up for it. 

Western Australia 

Ashton Agar (injured)
Recent form: 35, 15, 33, 6, 7, 0, 106, 4, 23, 10 (239 at 23.90)

Any chance the allrounder had of a late call-up was seemingly ended when he was ruled out of WA’s Shield clash with Tasmania due to a calf injury. Agar starred for the Warriors in their previous match, taking 10-141 on a turning SCG track, the second 10-wicket haul of his career.

Cameron Bancroft (2)
Recent form: 2, 6, 22, 17, 20, 58*, 10, 32*, 28, 71 (266 at 33.25)

The WA opener was in such hot form two summers ago that he was elevated into Australia's Test squad for the postponed tour of Bangladesh. But with Burns under pressure to hold his place in the Test side, Bancroft could manage only 2 on Thursday to go with scores of 22, 6, 20 and 17 this season.

International cricket is more affordable than ever this summer, with adult tickets from $30, kids from $10 and family packages from $65 across every day of international cricket. Price for purchase at match. Transaction fee from $6.95 applies to online and other purchases. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.