If the first day of NSW’s Sheffield Shield clash against Queensland at the SCG was about getting on with life in the wake of Phillip Hughes’ death, day two on Wednesday will be about getting their season back on track.
The reigning domestic four-day champions took control of the match on Tuesday and will be desperate to lift themselves from the bottom of the table.
After Queensland were bowled out for 268, the Blues will start day two at 1-17.
Before the game, coach Trevor Bayliss said the score was irrelevant and winning was the furthest thing from his mind as his squad grappled with Hughes’ tragic death.
But after an ordinary start, they proved they were capable of good cricket as they fought back in the middle session to take honours on day one.
Sean Abbott, who went into the game with so many eyes on him after delivering the ball that felled Hughes, took two key wickets.
Mitchell Starc also delivered Australian selectors a reminder of his talents by claiming 3-52.
Abbott (2-53) and Starc produced reverse swing as Queensland’s middle order fell in a heap in the second session.
With the prospect of the pitch breaking up on the fourth day, neither side was overly confident about their position, and NSW said they were particularly keen to avoid having to make substantial runs batting last.
However they said they were happy with their first day’s performance having put themselves in a position to push for valuable points.
“Any four-day game you’ve got to take it a day at a time and we’ve ticked off today as a good day for us,” NSW assistant coach Geoff Lawson said.
“We’ve got to bat all day (on Wednesday) and a bit of the next day and get a lead so we don’t have to bat last.”
Meanwhile, Tasmania will resume at 6-307 today in their Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia in Hobart.
The Tigers posted a solid start on the Bellerive pitch thanks to opener Ed Cowan (147) who found support at times from captain George Bailey (69) and Jonathan Wells (43).
South Australia will be hoping to wrap up the hosts’ first innings early, when Ben Dunk (three not out) and Ben Hilfenhaus (10 not out) will return to the crease.
Paceman Joe Mennie (3-53) was the pick of the SA attack on day one.
