Four years after the last of his four tests for Australia, NSW Star Moises Henriques is a serious argument in favor of a team recall and home debut.
Henriques has played his entire testing career in Asia so far, with his first three games in India in 2013 and his fourth against Sri Lanka in 2016.
His numbers at the highest level leave much to be desired and haven’t hit double digits in his last six innings after hitting 68 and 81 * on his debut, but his form over the past 12 months has been nothing short of exceptional.
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The 33-year-old Sheffield Shield Joint Player of the Season, honored with Nic Maddinson 512 runs at 51.20, two centuries and fifty in his 12 innings last summer when the Blues won the first-rate tournament for the first time since 2013-14.
Henriques continued that form on Monday, the opening day of the NSW Shield defense, scoring a 169-ball century against Western Australia as the Blues finished the day 3-262.
It was a performance that got the blues out of trouble after squandering the opener’s strong platform Nick Larkin (34) and Daniel Hughes (23). Larkin and Hughes put in 54 runs for NSW’s first wicket after being sent to the bat, only to fire Larkin and open the door for WA.
Larkin was caught bowling Liam Guthrie (1-58) and his fall triggered a collapse of three for 17th No. 3 Kurtis Patterson (1) dashed his hopes for a test recall three overs later and sweetly combined with a launch Cameron Gannon (1-63) but picking out deep fine leg perfectly to fall for one.
His firing put Henriques in the middle, and the Shield veteran soon had to rebuild NSW’s innings when Hughes set off Aaron Hardie (1-43) to the barrier, departure with display board 3-71.
Next Daniel Solway (68 *), Henriques first stabilized the ship and then put NSW at the head through stumps. While Solway went slow and steady, taking 183 balls to reach 50, Henriques kept the Warriors’ attack honest and hit 18 boundaries, including a six to avoid landing on 134.
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Lyon enjoys red ball grind
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The barrel puts Henriques in a strong position to secure a spot on the Australian testing team, but a strong spell with the ball would be the perfect feather in his cap.
Earlier in the year, Australia coach Justin Langer pleaded Henriques to bowl more often, and the test team looked for an all-rounder. As Henriques pointed out, the Blues’ attack was not of low quality and he wasn’t going to push Captain Peter Nevill to put his testing ambitions before the team’s interests.
That attack remains impressive, but the shield’s early stages could be Henriques’ best chance at an all-rounder. Mitchell Starc missed the first two rounds and Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are gone at the IPL.
TASMANIA ROLL SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Across the parking lot from Karen Rolton Oval, Tasmania’s seam-bowling convert Pretty Webster (3-26) impressed with its mean pacemakers against South Australia when the hosts were left out after picking the bat for 195.
Predominantly a spin bowling all-rounder, Webster added seam bowling to his arsenal in the off-season, making good use of his 8-inch frame. He has similar skills to former three-format star Andrew Symonds, who was a big batsman with his bat and played both seam and spin throughout his career.
For Tasmania, it has proven more than useful so far this season. In the team’s opening game, Webster took 2-78, bowling Marnus Labuschagne at his pace, catching Michael Neser off his spin, and on Monday he finished with numbers 3-26.
The 26 year old with great success opened his account by taking Liam Scotts Rand thanks to the steepling rebound he got off the field before he could bowl Chadd Sayers (30) and get Kane Richardson (3) out of the way.
Wicketkeeper batsman Harry Nielsen (64), along with Alex Carey (IPL), was South Australia’s best batsman with 64 points, No. 8 Sayers (30) and opener Harry Hunt (30) the next highest scorers.
Peter Siddle (2-30) From the beginning, place the redbacks on the rear foot and remove them Jake Weatherald passing for four in the fourth and later, Hunt had been lagging behind in the 28th minute. Between these layoffs, Nathan Ellis took a nap Brad Davis (5) and Travis Head (2) was brought into cover by a direct hit from Alex Doolan.
Ellis then caught Callum Ferguson (29) in front and Webster removed Scott (15) to have Nielsen hit his tail.
Jackson Bird (2-47) then wrapped the innings and took a spectacular dive of his own bowling to remove it Wes Agar (2) before bowling Nielsen.
Tasmania ended the day at 2-2pm with Sayer’s traps Jordan Silk Front for a duck in the first front Kane Richardson would have Alex Doolan (6) lagged behind on the 10th.
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