The Great Australian Rebuild - An Original Cricket 22 Series

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Batsmen Dominate Day 1 at the SCG​

Victorian Pair, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell dominate day 1, as Jake Weatherald makes a surprise claim for the opening batsmen position with a 50 to his name.

Matthew Wade won the toss and elected to bat, and his team would finish the day 6/323. However it wasn't smooth sailing as Marcus Harris was dismissed in the 2nd over of the day by tearaway Jhye Richardson. Jake Weatherald and Glenn Maxwell would than launch a stunning counterattack of a partnership before a terrible mixup led to the runout of Weatherald just before the lunch interval.

Later in the day it would be Aaron Finch and newly announced test vice captain Matthew Wade who would again put a stunning partnership together, with Wade eventaully falling to another disappointing runout for 57. Finch would finish the day 87* and is looking to make a big claim to snare a top order position in the Test match side for the tour of UAE.

On the bowling side of things it was Jhye Richardson who led the attack with 2/48 off 14 overs, while Fawad Ahmed would also claim 2 wickets, as he prepares to possibly lead Australia's spin attack against his nation of birth, Pakistan. Siddle and Neser were unable to pick up wickets, despite bowling 46 overs between them.

 

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Finch brings up hundred as White's XI fail to fire with bat in hand. ​

Aaron Finch was able to build on his 87* overnight and finished with 108 before being the last man to fall in the Wade's XI innings, caught behind off the bowling of Fawad Ahmed. Fawad Ahmed was again bowling beautifully and finished with figures of 5/104 (31.5) to clean up the tail of Wade's XI.

White's XI would move into the batting crease and fail to fire, with the top 3 of Burns, Renshaw and Handscomb all failing to reach more than 15. The new test captain Cameron White would try to survive to the storm putting on 44 of his own runs, but with wickets falling around him he eventually fell to Chris Tremain, nicking off and being caught behind by Alex Carey. Jake Doran and Michael Neser would try to rebuild the innings for White's XI as Doran would make a patient 33 (81), while Neser was more flamboyent in his approach and his 48 (77) did ensure White's XI would finish over the 200 mark.

Wade's XI bowling was very even as every bowler who took to the crease able to pick up a wicket. The pick of the bowlers being left arm off spinner, Jon Holland, finishing with 3/61 off his 15.2 overs. Wade's XI than had 9 overs to survive before the end of the day and would lose 2 wickets, with Glenn Maxwell and Jake Weatherald both being dismissed.

 

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Holland takes 5 as Wade's XI cruise to victory in first intra-squad match.
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Wade's XI walked to the crease with the Victorian combination of Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris at the crease together, and while a small partnership would follow them, once it was broken, Peter Siddle and the 2 leg spinners of Fawad Ahmed and Marnus Labuschagne would rip through the remaining batting order and bundle Wade's XI out for 182.

A disappointing result for a lot of players with the bat as Weatherald, Finch, Harris, Wade and Carey all passed 15, but were unable to go on and get a big score. Siddle was the standout with the ball finishing with 4/53, while Ahmed had figures of 3/36 and Marnus Labuschagne took 2/18 with his part time leg spin.

When White's XI took to the batting crease once again the total needed was 325, and again their top order would fail them as the quickly fell to 4/56. Marnus Labuschagne would hit a counterattacking 41 off 59 deliveries and Jake Doran again would press his case for wicketkeeper position in the test team as he manufactured a well made 50 batting with the tail. However Jon Holland was the star of the 2nd innings, claiming 5 wickets and dismantling the top order of White's team. Glenn Maxwell would eventually finish the match with his only over of the match, dismissing Jhye Richardson to hand Wade's XI a 117 run victory.

So the question is now, of the players who enhanced their reputation in this game, can they continue to do so in the 2nd match which will start in 6 days time, or will the players that missed their opportunity come back and claim their spot in the UAE touring party?

 

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Renshaw and Burns get off to flier after Richardson takes SEVEN!​

Jhye Richardson was the absolute star of the show on day 1 with a stunning 7 wicket haul, despite some strong resistance from Aaron Finch and Matthew Wade. White's XI are in prime position after day 1 after they bowled out Wade's XI for 189, with Jhye Richardson taking 7 wickets. This was than followed by a blistering opening partnership between Queensland pair Joe Burns and Matthew Renshaw as they piled on 91 in 19 overs, before Burns was dismissed on the first ball of the final over of Day 1.

Jhye Richardson's figures of 7/49 highlight that he is living up to the expectations of being the future of Australia's fast bowling department, despite yet making his test debut for his country. This may be furthered by the fact Peter Siddle has been rested from this match after suffering a finger injury during training 2 days prior. If Peter Siddle is unfit for the tour to the UAE, a lot will rest on the shoulders of Jhye Richardson to lead this pace attack.

Aaron Finch again put his claims forward to secure a top order position in Australia's test side, and looks a lock to at least make the touring party. Wade also showed he is prepared to rejoin the test team with a counterattacking 42.

 

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Boland and Finch star on day 2 as match is evenly poised!

Finch has again cemented his spot on the tour of the UAE with a blistering 87* off just 89 deliveries, while Scott Boland has pushed his claim for a test debut with 4 wickets as White's XI were bowled out for 250. Peter Handscomb was the standout for White's XI as he made a nicely composed 66, while Renshaw was unable to add to his overnight score of 50.

Boland would finish with figures of 4/32, while Jon Holland would finish with 3/61, however his economy was an issue going at just under 6 runs an over for his spell. When Wade's XI walked back out to bat early wickets saw Finch enter the crease early again, and he started a stunning counter attack which could lead to his 2nd century of the 4 innings so far. Finch surely will be taking a top order position, with Peter Handscomb likely to be there too, and White batting at 4, does Finch move down the order to 5? Or will Justin Langer use him as an opener?

No opener in these 2 matches has 100% claimed there spot meaning Finch may be thrusted into the opening position, a position he has never batted in First Class cricket. With only 1 innings left, Renshaw and Burns will be hoping to validate themselves to play the first test in the UAE, as it seems Weatherald and Marcus Harris have missed their chances with subpar performances throughout. ​