The Sheffield Shield is back with a bang, and Ben Gardner picks out a combined XI from the first week of action.

Only two games were held in the first round of Sheffield Shield action as Victoria undergo a quarantine period, but there was plenty of intrigue as Western Australia thumped South Australia by 205 runs and Queensland crushed Tasmania by an innings, albeit with that victory only secured late on the final evening.

Sheffield Shield team of the week: round one

Cameron Bancroft: 46 & 71 (Western Australia)

A quietly encouraging return to form from Cameron Bancroft. The reformed Australia opener laid the platform in Western Australia’s first innings, putting on a century stand with Sam Whiteman, before making his first first-class half-century in over a year to set up a declaration in the second.

Jake Weatherald: 105 & 36 (South Australia)

In response to Western Australia’s mammoth first-innings total, Jake Weatherald’s seventh first-class century laid the platform for a strong response only for his teammates to squander his good work. From 180-1 just prior to his dismissal, they eventually slid to 314 all out.

Jordan Silk: 10 & 56 (Tasmania)

The overall returns might not amount to much, but Jordan Silk’s second-innings half-century occupied all of 201 balls to give Tasmania hopes of snatching a draw.

Marnus Labuschagne: 167, 1-9 (Queensland)

Australia’s new batting lynchpin picked up exactly where he left off before lockdown, compiling the highest score of the round to build a match-defining total for Queensland. Also removed the doughty Nathan Ellis late in the piece.

Shaun Marsh: 31 & 110* (Western Australia)

The 37-year-old enigma strummed a run-a-ball century as Western Australia raced to a declaration, proving he’s still got what it takes – for now at least.

Ashton Agar: 114*, 5-103 & 1-46 (Western Australia)

Newly ensconced at No.6, Ashton Agar had days out with bat and ball, putting on 266 with Josh Inglis for the sixth wicket before taking his sixth first-class five-for as he polished off the South Australia tail. At one point his figures read 0-76 before he finished off proceedings in a hurry.

Josh Inglis: 153*, four catches (Western Australia)

The 25-year-old Leeds-born stumper notched a memorable maiden first-class ton, smashing 26 fours and three sixes in his 182-ball knock.

Michael Neser: 5-32, 121, 0-30 (Queensland)

Like Agar, Michael Neser also starred with both bat and ball. Before this round, not since Mitchell Johnson in 2010 had a player scored a century and taken five in the same Shield game. Neser’s first-innings spell was typically metronomic as he went at under two an over, while his brisk ton from No.8 turned a good total into a huge one.

Lloyd Pope: 5-164, 0 & 0* (South Australia)

The red-haired leggie just edges out Cameron Gannon for this team, if only because he’ll make it more entertaining. He went at over a run a ball in Western Australia’s first innings, but also claimed all five wickets to fall.

Xavier Bartlett: 4-58, 5, 3-38 (Queensland)

The former Australia under-19 seamer played the perfect foil to Neser on the first day and Swepson on the last. While he went for a few on day one, he accounted for four wickets, and he kept the runs down on day four while taking three scalps. All his wickets were top-seven batsmen, and he dismissed Australia captain Tim Paine twice.

Mitchell Swepson: 1-68 & 4-66 (Queensland)

In a thrilling finish, Mitchell Swepson rolled his arm over for 45.2 overs to se Queensland home in the nick of time.

Related tags:

Australia