Sheffield Shield: Batsmen miserably fail Test appraisals as bowlers wreak havoc

Bowlers ran riot in the Sheffield Shield on Saturday as a plethora of top batsmen failed their figurative Test auditions.

None of Matt Renshaw, Joe Burns, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Alex Doolan, Matthew Wade, Shaun Marsh or Mitchell Marsh passed 25 for their states in a horror effort with the willow around the country. 

It leaves the make-up of Australia's batting order clouded for the first Test against India starting December 6.

Queenslander Marnus Labuschagne stood up, however, scoring a gritty 52 as he fights to keep his Australian place.

MORE: Sri Lanka v England: Sublime Joe Root century gives tourists imposing lead

This comes after South Australia's Travis Head scored 87 yesterday to almost certainly retain his spot in the Test XI, while often overlooked NSW all-rounder Moises Henriques whacked 152.



Read on for a wrap-up of each match.

NSW v Queensland, day two: Aussie bowlers enjoy perfect Test warm-up

Australia's premier bowling unit produced a strong performance for NSW in the Sheffield Shield as they continue preparations for the home summer.

Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc bowled a combined 87.4 overs and each took wickets as Queensland made 260 all-out in reply to NSW's first innings of 279.

Off-spinner Lyon (4-83) was the pick of the bunch, followed by quicks Cummins (3-41), Hazlewood (2-53) and Starc (1-71).

However, their success proved the undoing of Bulls batsman and Test aspirant Matt Renshaw.

After riding his luck to be 8 not out overnight, Renshaw was dismissed for an underwhelming 21 when he edged behind off Lyon.

His Queensland opening partner Joe Burns, who is also chasing an elite-level comeback, had already fallen for 6 on the previous evening.

Incumbent middle-order Test batter Marnus Labuschagne showed resilience, grafting 52 before having his castle rocked by a Cummins thunderbolt.

Labuschagne averaged a sub-par 20.25 on Australia's recent two-match series versus Pakistan.

Saturday's dig was Labuschagne's first score above 20 of the Shield season. Whether it's enough to save his Australian berth remains to be seen.


South Australia v Western Australia, day two: Same old story for Marsh brothers

The Marsh brothers can expect more scrutiny over their Test futures after they both failed with the bat for Western Australia.

Shaun (21) and Mitch (1) were sent back to the pavilion within nine balls of each other at the Adelaide Oval.

Despite the fact Shaun struck a century in Australia's most recent one-day international and Mitch peeled off 151 in the last Shield round, Saturday's showing will do little to hush the pair's vocal detractors.

Former Test all-rounder Hilton Cartwright (42) top-scored as the Warriors were dismissed for 207.

South Australian quick Daniel Worrall was the chief destroyer, claiming an impressive 7-64.

The Redbacks made 251 on day one of the match.




Tasmania v Victoria, day one: Tassie capitulates as Tremain, Pattinson fire

Paceman Chris Tremain's stunning haul of 5-13 from 9.5 overs headlined a devastating Victorian bowling performance as Tasmania was dismissed for a paltry 81.

Fellow Bushrangers speedster James Pattinson also impressed in only his second Shield game following a 20-month injury layoff, snaring three wickets in a brutal five-over spell.

Pattinson has openly stated he wants to earn selection in Australia's 2019 Ashes squad.

Meanwhile, Tasmanian batsmen Alex Doolan (0) and Matthew Wade (14) did nothing to further their international credentials.

Australian captain Tim Paine, who is skippering the Tigers in this match, was caught by Cameron White off Tremain for 3.

Victoria has already passed Tasmania's first innings total and is building an imposing lead.

However, Test hopefuls Marcus Harris (22) and Peter Handscomb (4) were dismissed cheaply.