Changes for Vics, Tigers
Tue, 9 March 2010
Chasing a win to be guaranteed a home final, Victoria has made one change for the team's final match of the Sheffield Shield season against Tasmania starting at the MCG on Wednesday. Twenty-one-year-old Michael Hill replaces the injured Chris Rogers and is set to open in just his second Shield appearance. Lloyd Mash is the likely 12th man for the Bushrangers who will be keeping a watchful eye on events at the Gabba over the next four days where Queensland is hosting Western Australia. The Bushrangers lead the competition table by just three points, but an outright in Brisbane would earn the second-placed Bulls the right to host the Shield final unless the Vics also manage to claim six points against Tassie. Tasmania has made two changes, bringing in off-spinner Jason Krejza and batsman Jon Wells for skipper George Bailey who's been called-up to the ODI squad, and all-rounder James Faulkner. Tim Paine will lead the Tigers in Bailey's absence and Wells will be vying with Tim Macdonald for 12th man duties. In-form Bushrangers paceman Damien Wright was not surprised by Krejza's return to work in tandem with left-arm orthodox spinner Xavier Doherty. "I think they will (play two spinners) which is an interesting call," said Wright. "There'll be a little bit in it and I think it won't be too much different from the last Shield wicket we had here against the Blues." Wright said the Vics returned from the west full of confidence after last week's come-from-behind win against the Warriors at the WACA. Trailing by 75 runs on the first innings, the Bushrangers were in desperate straits at 5-111 in their second dig before recovering to set the hosts 304 to win. Wright, who blasted 80 from 76 deliveries in Victoria's second innings, claimed 3-19 on the final day to help bowl the Vics to a 55-run win. "We really do believe we can win from any position," said Wright. "It was a great result for us and I think it was really good that we had to win like that rather than being in front which we have been for the majority of the year." "To come from behind to win the game was huge." Wright, who missed the first half of the domestic season with a hamstring strain, now regards that setback as a blessing. The 34-year-old believes he's peaking at the right end of the season. "I've never felt this good towards this time of the year," he said. "It's been a huge positive, as much as I would have loved to have played all year." "To be able to be fit and firing is a bonus." Wright said the Bushrangers were taking nothing for granted against the Tigers who will draw confidence from their win over the Vics in the final of the Ford Ranger Cup and who would love nothing more than to upset the Vics' campaign. "We know we're in the final, it's just up to us where it's going to be," said Wright. "If we can get the result we want against Tassie we know we're going to host it." "First innings points in this game doesn't really mean too much, we need to get six." Victorian squad: David Hussey (c), Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Michael Hill, Nick Jewell, Andrew McDonald, Bryce McGain, Lloyd Mash, Darren Pattinson, Rob Quiney, Matthew Wade, Damien Wright Tasmanian squad: Tim Paine (c), Ed Cowan, Xavier Doherty, Alex Doolan, Brendan Drew, Adam Griffith, Jason Krejza, Rhett Lockyear, Tim Macdonald, Adam Maher, Dan Marsh, Jon Wells
Angus Morgan, Sportal
