South Australian batsman Tom Cooper has given Australian selectors something to think about after blasting an unbeaten 156 on the first day of his side’s Sheffield Shield match against Queensland at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Cooper shot to the top of the Sheffield Shield run scorers’ list for the 2013-14 season and simultaneously put the Redbacks in a commanding position at 4-278.
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It was the No.4’s fourth first class century but his second of the season, both of which have come against the Bulls.
He has become a thorn in Queensland’s side after hitting 171 when the two sides drew in October.
He looked composed and was rarely troubled on what he described as the most batting-friendly Gabba wicket he had ever played on.
The 27-year-old has previously represented the Netherlands, the country of his mother’s birth, at ODI and international Twenty20 level.
However since the Netherlands are a non-Test playing nation, it would not preclude him from turning out for Australia in the future.
“I don’t think I can put my finger on it,” he said when asked about his rich vein of form.
“If I could I’d make sure I would do it all the time.
“I think it was just a lot of hard work pre-season. Probably that hunger to go big once you get in.
“There’s going to be plenty of days when you nick off first ball and you’re hating the game then.
“I think you have to maximise when you do get yourself in.”
Cooper and Johan Botha (53 not out) put on an 126-run partnership to wrest control of the match and put South Australia in a commanding position to maintain their standing at the top of the ladder.
Cooper mounted a rescue mission after coming to the crease at 2-13.
Queensland captain James Hopes (2-43) won the toss and elected to bowl, hoping to take advantage of cloudy conditions in the first hour.
Hopes was on a hat-trick after snaring the wickets of Michael Klinger (1) and Travis Head (0), but it one way traffic after that with only two wickets falling after lunch.
“We started well, we came in with a plan to try to boss the game,” Queensland coach Stuart Law said.
“It didn’t quite work out for us. We weren’t quite on our game today with our bowling. I thought our lines and lengths deserted us at periods of time. We had good periods as well.”
