Shield wrap: How did Australia's Test hopefuls fare?

14 Oct 2019 AAP & cricket.com.au

We take a look at how Australia's Test contenders fared during the opening round of the Marsh Sheffield Shield

POSITIVES

Tim Paine (121). Australia's Test skipper declared it "meant nothing to him" but it must have been a relief to post just his second first-class century.

Paine scores breakthrough ton 13 years in the making

David Warner (125, 0) and Marcus Harris (116). The incumbent Test openers both scored much-needed tons after battling during the Ashes.

Warner blazes emphatic 125 in Shield return

Marnus Labuschagne (69, 52). Impressive again from the consistent Queenslander, who is looking to retain his Test No.3 spot ahead of state teammate Usman Khawaja.

Labuschagne digs in for second fifty of Shield clash

Michael Neser (2-56, 3-42). The reserve Ashes paceman dismissed both Smith and Warner, as well as Moises Henriques, during NSW's second innings.

BELOW PAR

Steve Smith (0, 21). Australia's golden boy had to slip up eventually after a phenomenal Ashes series. Fell for a fifth-ball duck in the first innings.

Smith dismissed for a duck in return to Shield cricket

Usman Khawaja (1, 24). An untimely failure after being dropped in the UK. Scored back-to-back centuries in the domestic one-day competition earlier this month.

Cameron Bancroft (30, 0). Like Khawaja, was axed during the Ashes and has work to do to force his way back into Australia's first-choice XI.

Mitchell Starc (0-42, 1-87). Not what he was hoping for after being overlooked for all bar one Ashes Test, although NSW skipper Peter Nevill believes the left-armer will improve from the performance.

OTHERS

Fringe runs. Not in the Test selection conversation but Tom Cooper (271 not out) and Nic Maddinson (224) both plundered double centuries, albeit on a lifeless Junction Oval pitch.

Composed Cooper carries his bat for Redbacks

Young guns. Victoria's Will Pucovski (123) and South Australia's Alex Carey (117) continued to impress under the watchful eye of national selector Trevor Hohns.

Pucovski powers his way to century for Vics

Marsh brothers. Mitch Marsh (41, 53) - Australia's incumbent No.6 - put in a solid performance but will have scans on his bowling hand after punching a dressing-room wall. Older brother Shaun scored a classy second-innings 85 at the WACA Ground.