Cricket

Tasmania's batting lineup faced a stern test on the opening day of their Sheffield Shield clash against Western Australia at the WACA, as the hosts' frontline attack restricted them to 158 for 5.Allrounder Aaron Hardie, making his first Shield appearance of the season, impressed with a lively opening spell, while offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli claimed two crucial wickets before lunch.After winning the toss and electing to bowl, WA skipper Sam Whiteman's decision was vindicated as the quicks relished the green wicket. Rocchiccioli, who recently earned Australia A selection, showcased his sharp turn and bounce to dismiss Jake Weatherald and Jordan Silk.Brody Couch, who had a mixed debut against Queensland, was fiery and clocked speeds reaching 143kph. He rewarded for the breakthrough of Caleb Jewell, who edged a good length delivery to second slip.However, Tasmania's No.5 Jake Doran held firm, anchoring the innings with an attractive 59 not out. He combined in a half-century partnership with Charlie Wakim, who was eventually dismissed by Cameron Gannon.Allrounder Beau Webster, who is also in Test calculations to replace Cameron Green, made just 3 before nicking off to seamer Matt Kelly.Despite the rain interruption, WA's bowlers maintained a stranglehold on the game, with Mitchell Marsh yet to enter the attack.

Victoria and Tasmania played out a tame draw on day four of their Sheffield Shield clash at the Junction Oval in Melbourne, with the lifeless pitch preventing any prospect of a result.Marcus Harris continued his impressive form with a second-innings 52, adding to his first-innings century. However, the lack of bounce and pace in the wicket made it impossible for Tasmania to take 10 wickets in the time remaining.Harris's innings was characterized by his trademark fluency, striking eight boundaries before nicking a full delivery from Kieran Elliott. Ash Chandrasinghe also impressed, scoring 44 before being bowled by Matt Kuhnemann.Victoria's second innings reached 120 for 2 off 52 overs, with Campbell Kellaway and Peter Handscomb remaining unbeaten. Tasmania had declared overnight with a 99-run lead, but the flat pitch made it clear that a result was unlikely.Despite the disappointing outcome, Harris was pleased with his performance. He revealed that he had spoken to Australia selector Tony Dodemaide about the possibility of playing for Australia A against India A in the upcoming weeks."He asked if I wanted to bat six and bowl seam up in the Test side," Harris joked. "He was just talking about the Aussie A stuff. I think that'll come out the next few days."Victoria coach Chris Rogers and Tasmania coach Jeff Vaughan expressed frustration at the lack of a result. They acknowledged the challenges of preparing a lively wicket early in the season, but Rogers admitted that the current surface was "not great for cricket."Vaughan echoed Rogers' sentiments, stating that it is "darn hard at this time of year to get high-quality result wickets."

Tasmania's valiant fightback, led by captain Jordan Silk's unbeaten half-century, has kept them in contention against Victoria in their Sheffield Shield clash at the Junction Oval.After Victoria declared their first innings at 428 for 9, thanks to centuries from Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Perry's all-round performance put the hosts in a commanding position. Perry's unbeaten 58 and two wickets helped Victoria extend their lead to 227 runs.Tasmania's openers, Caleb Jewell and Jake Weatherald, started cautiously, but Perry's brilliance broke through, dismissing Jewell for 32. Charlie Wakim also fell cheaply, leaving Tasmania vulnerable at 80 for 3.However, Silk and Jake Doran steadied the ship with a 63-run partnership. Doran eventually departed for 33, but Silk remained resolute, guiding Tasmania past 200 alongside Beau Webster.Victoria's bowlers, led by Perry, tried various tactics to create chances, but Silk and Webster remained unyielding. The visitors reached stumps at 201 for 4, with Silk unbeaten on 50* and Webster on 28*.The new ball will be crucial on day three, as both sides aim to gain an advantage. Tasmania will need to continue their fightback and reduce the deficit, while Victoria will look to press home their advantage and secure a substantial lead.

Victoria's Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb have showcased their batting prowess with twin centuries against Tasmania on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield season. Harris, with 143 runs, and Handscomb, with 129 runs, put together a formidable 239-run partnership, propelling Victoria to a strong position of 330 for 7 at stumps.Harris, known for his affinity with the Junction Oval, displayed his class with a fluent innings, driving and cutting the ball with precision. Handscomb, continuing his impressive form from the county championship, provided a steady presence, allowing Harris to flourish.However, Tasmania's bowlers fought back late in the day, with Gabe Bell claiming three wickets, including Harris' dismissal. Beau Webster and Brad Hope also contributed with wickets, leaving the game evenly poised.Harris' century serves as a timely reminder of his Test credentials, with Cameron Green's availability for the upcoming series against India uncertain. Handscomb, while less likely to be considered for the Test series, has strengthened his case for a spot on the tour of Sri Lanka in January-February.The match highlights the depth of batting talent in Australia, with both Harris and Handscomb demonstrating their ability to score big runs in challenging conditions. As the Sheffield Shield season progresses, the competition for Test selection will intensify, and these performances will undoubtedly be closely monitored by the national selectors.

Queensland and Tasmania shared the One-Day Cup points after rain and bad light curtailed their match in Melbourne to just 16 overs.Matt Renshaw's half-century was the only highlight for Queensland, who posted 128 for 5 in the rain-affected encounter. The left-hander struck 51 off 36 balls, including four fours and three sixes.Persistent rain delayed the start of the match by four-and-a-half hours, and the game was eventually reduced to a 20-over affair with 50-over powerplay rules.Tasmania, who had been skittled by Victoria on the same surface two days earlier, unsurprisingly sent Queensland in to bat.Gabe Bell and Beau Webster made early breakthroughs for Tasmania, removing Ben McDermott and Max Bryant respectively.Renshaw and Lachlan Hearne then combined for a 79-run stand in just 8.4 overs, striking seven fours and four sixes between them.Webster broke the partnership, and Matt Kuhnemann picked up his first wicket for his new state against his old side, bowling Jack Wildermuth for 8.Hearne holed out to deep midwicket off Bell in the 15th over, and the umpires checked the light after 16 overs and called a halt to proceedings.Play never resumed, and the points were shared.Queensland will remain in Melbourne and face Victoria on Friday, with Australia Test opener Usman Khawaja set to play after missing the clash with Tasmania.

Victoria's Sam Elliott etched his name into Australian One-Day domestic cricket history with a remarkable performance against Tasmania in Melbourne. Elliott's devastating spell of 7 for 12, the second-best figures in the competition's history, propelled Victoria to a thrilling four-wicket victory.On a challenging pitch at the Junction Oval, Elliott wreaked havoc on Tasmania's batting lineup. His extra bounce and late seam movement proved too much for the visitors, who were dismissed for a paltry 126. Elliott's victims included Jordan Silk, Jake Weatherald, and Brad Hope, all of whom were caught behind.Victoria's chase got off to a shaky start, losing six wickets for 72 runs. However, Elliott and skipper Will Sutherland combined for an unbeaten 56-run partnership to guide their side to victory. Elliott's 19 not out included some impressive pull shots, while Sutherland contributed a composed 36 not out.Earlier, Tasmania's innings had been hampered by the early dismissals of Mitch Own and Caleb Jewell. Elliott's introduction into the attack proved disastrous for the visitors, who lost their middle order in quick succession. Matthew Kuhnemann and Gabe Bell's 34-run partnership for the 10th wicket provided some consolation for Tasmania.Victoria's victory was a testament to Elliott's exceptional bowling performance and the resilience of Sutherland and Elliott's partnership. The result leaves Victoria with a 1-0 lead in the One-Day Cup series against Tasmania.

Tasmania's aspirations to host indoor Test cricket at a proposed new stadium in Hobart have taken a significant step forward as part of the state's bid to join the Australian Football League (AFL). The Tasmania Devils are set to become the AFL's 19th team in 2028, and the construction of a new stadium is a key component of the deal.The proposed stadium at Macquarie Point is envisioned as a multipurpose venue with a capacity of 23,000 and a transparent roof that would allow for both daytime cricket and floodlit T20 matches. Macquarie Point Development Corporation CEO Anne Beach emphasized the importance of securing accreditation for red-ball cricket, stating that it is a critical factor in enabling the stadium to host a full range of cricket content.Concept designs for the Macquarie Point stadium were unveiled earlier this week, incorporating data from ball-tracking technology to ensure the roof is sufficiently high for cricket. Cox Architecture CEO Alistair Richardson explained that the roof has been raised to 50 meters, which exceeds the maximum height at which a ball has ever been hit.Experts have indicated that the design of the roof will minimize the impact of shadows on the playing surface. While Marvel Stadium in Melbourne has hosted indoor ODIs and BBL matches with the roof closed, Test cricket has never been played at an enclosed ground.Cricket Tasmania chair David Boon expressed the state's eagerness to play cricket at the new stadium, acknowledging that it could spark discussions about the future of Bellerive Oval. He emphasized Tasmania's desire to be a leader in innovation for the future of the game.Tasmania last hosted a Test match in the 2021-22 season, when the final Ashes match was moved to Bellerive Oval from Perth due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. It is unlikely that Tasmania will host another Test in the current Future Tours Programme, but it is scheduled to host a T20I against Pakistan in November and the third ODI of the Women's Ashes in January.

Tasmanian offspinner Jarrod Freeman has taken an indefinite break from cricket to prioritize his mental well-being. The 23-year-old has been a mainstay in Tasmania's Sheffield Shield team for the past two seasons, claiming 40 wickets at an average of 46.00. He played a pivotal role in the team's run to the final in the 2023-24 campaign.Freeman's decision to step away from the game highlights the growing awareness of mental health issues in professional sports. Cricket Tasmania has expressed its support for Freeman during this challenging time, emphasizing the importance of mental well-being. The organization hopes to see him return to cricket in the future.Tasmania has taken steps to bolster its spin bowling resources in the off-season, signing Test left-armer Matt Kuhnemann from Queensland and Australia Under-19 offspinner Raf MacMillan on a rookie contract. Kuhnemann, who was recently on standby for Australia's T20 World Cup squad, has moved states to gain more red-ball experience. He has only played four first-class matches since featuring in the Test series against India early last year.Legspinner Mitchell Swepson was Queensland's primary spin option in the Sheffield Shield last season, but the pair played together as a key part of Brisbane Heat's BBL title-winning side. Kuhnemann will remain with Heat for the 2024-25 season.Cricket Tasmania continues to prioritize mental health training and education for its athletes, recognizing the challenges they face throughout their careers. The organization's support for Freeman serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing mental well-being in the sporting world.

Matthew Kuhnemann, the 27-year-old left-arm finger spinner, has joined Tasmania in a bid to secure regular red-ball game time ahead of Australia's tour of Sri Lanka next summer. Kuhnemann, who has played three Tests for Australia, was overlooked by his home state Queensland last season and has made the move south to become Tasmania's No.1 Shield spinner.Kuhnemann has 20 first-class matches under his belt and impressed during his three Tests in India earlier this year, taking 5 for 16 in his second Test to help Australia beat the hosts at Indore. He will be eyeing a spot in Australia's Test squad for their tour of Sri Lanka in February, after a summer series on home soil against India.Kuhnemann's move to Tasmania is a significant boost for the Tigers, who lost to Western Australia in March's Sheffield Shield final. Jarrod Freeman was their first-choice spinner last season, but Kuhnemann's experience and quality will provide Tasmania with a different option.Kuhnemann will also be available for 50-over selection for Tasmania and remains contracted to the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League. Tasmania's high-performance manager Salliann Beams said: "We are excited to have a player of Matt's calibre join the Tigers and believe he will play a key role for us in the white-ball format of the game."In addition to Kuhnemann, Tasmania has also signed 22-year-old Queensland quick Will Prestwidge, who played two one-day games for the Bulls across three summers. These signings will bolster Tasmania's squad and give them a strong chance of challenging for silverware in the upcoming season.