Blues v. Bulls - Pura Cup

[Donny]

Tucker's in a spin

By Jon Pierik - Fox


AS would be expected after a 10-year absence, Adrian Tucker had some housekeeping to take care of yesterday.

Recalled to the NSW side for the Pura Cup meeting with Queensland at the SCG tomorrow, the Eastern Suburbs leg-spinner had more on his mind than just rolling the arm over.

First, he needed to be fitted out with a new kit, as the team sponsor on his old one had long departed.

Then he had to look for his baggy blue cap, which he last wore in Hobart in 1994.

"I am struggling to find it, I think it's at dad's place," Tucker said. "I am sure it will be very mouldy."

His return to first-class cricket may not have been surrounded with the fanfare experienced by a certain blond Victorian, but for the Blues it's of equal importance.

With Stuart MacGill on national duty in Sri Lanka, the back-up options for the state selectors were light on.

The word around grade cricket had been that Tucker was back in contention for state selection - and so it proved.

"It's a fantastic opportunity, especially given the circumstances of the game and the prospect of a Shield final," Tucker said.

Those circumstances obviously surround the last game, at least in Sydney, for the Waugh brothers.

The Blues must beat an injury-hit Queensland outright and rely on Tasmania missing out on any points in Hobart against Victoria to make the final.

Tucker, 34, said he was a different bowler to the one who played the last of his 14 Shield matches all those years ago. He remained in grade cricket until two summers ago, when he shifted to Hong Kong because of his work as an equities trader.

Despite an injury early this season, his return to cricket has been a success, where he has taken 26 wickets at 21.96 in 15 games for Easts.

Tucker says he is "probably a little bit more accurate" but "probably a little bit of the youthful zip and real impressive turn that I used to get is probably gone".

"That's hopefully made up for by a little bit more bowling intelligence and accuracy."

Tucker is already believed to have made history without bowling a ball, where his break of 10 years and 52 days is thought to be a record in the 111 years of the Sheffield Shield.

"It's great to still see that sort of story can still happen in cricket," skipper Steve Waugh said.

"The guy's out 10 years, he's followed his profession away from cricket, made that choice.

"Now he has got an opportunity to go back to cricket."

[Donny]

Law: don't rile Waugh

By Will Swanton - Fox


QUEENSLAND players will fall into a deathly silence when Steve Waugh bats during this week's crucial Pura Cup match at the SCG.

They don't want to stir the beast.

Stuart Law, fearing both Steve and Mark Waugh are set to farewell their home ground with a bang in what could be the last games of their first-class careers, says the Bulls will be intent on avoiding the kind of verbal stoushes that have always made the NSW captain's competitive juices boil over.

He's at his best when riled.

The former Australian skipper's ability to rise to an occasion – single-handedly salvaging the 1999 World Cup, standing up to the West Indies at their peak, defying serious injury to make a century in his last Test at The Oval, his unforgettable ton at the SCG in 2003, for starters – is the stuff of legend and Law is worried another stage has been set.

An outright win will get NSW or Queensland into the Pura Cup final at the MCG if second-placed Tasmania fails to take any points from Victoria at Bellerive Oval, but regardless of that scenario, the Waugh twins are playing on their beloved SCG for the last time.

"Tugger (Steve Waugh) is never shy of a contest – and the one thing you don't want to do is get into an argument with him on the cricket field because he generally comes out on top," said Law, who is also retiring at the end of the season.

"It's never far out of your mind.

"You keep quiet. If he's out there looking to pick a fight, turn your back on him, for Christ's sake.

"That's what has made him the great player he's been. He might not have had the style and class of other batsmen in world cricket, but he's made up for it.

"He's got a fantastic defensive technique, he's brutal on the offside off the back foot, and off his pads, but his main attribute is mental toughness. He's probably one of the toughest, if not the toughest, to have played world cricket.

"There's always the potential that he's going to come out and blast us all over the park."

Law said the Bulls had sledged Steve Waugh in the past ... and lost.pe"Adam Dale was bowling to him in Brisbane and Chippen (Dale) was bowling beautifully, swinging the ball, moving the ball late and he had NSW in a bit of trouble," said Law.

"We thought we'd try to unsettle Steve a bit. Matthew Hayden started saying stuff and Steve came back at Haydos and I'd stick my 20 cents worth in and he'd come back at me.

"Chippen would bowl and beat him and beat him and then he'd nick one and it would drop short of the slips. He nicked a couple that dropped short of the wicketkeeper and Chippen walked down the wicket and said, 'Mate, one of those edges is going to carry soon.

"Tugger just stood there and went 'don't hold your breath.'

"I stood at point laughing and he was right.

He ended up making 160 not out and saved the game for NSW.

"We learned a long time ago not to pick a fight with him."

Mark hasn't scored a century for NSW for more than two years, but Law was regarding him only marginally less cautiously.

"They're two of the toughest blokes to get out, especially when it's Queensland against NSW," said Law.

"I've seen them score plenty of 150s against us.

"Junior (Mark Waugh) is one of those guys who can turn it on at the drop of a hat."

To the suggestion Queensland had become the forgotten team in the Cup equation as star-studded NSW mounted a late charge, Law said: "That's normal, Queensland, who are Queensland? Down this part of the world, it's in everything we do.

"NSW and Victoria are supposedly better, but that's good for us. If we come here and no-one is really talking about us, there's no pressure on us. There's a lot of pressure for the other team to get into that final."

[Donny]

Steve Waugh won the toss and sent The Bulls in to bat.
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After 10 overs, it's 0/15. McGrath is on target with only 1 run from 5 overs.
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After McGrath bowled 7 overs for 6 maidens and 1 run, he was replaced by Tucker. The Bulls batsmen have relished the change and started making up for lost time.

It's 0/63 in the 21st. over with Simpson on 48 n.o.

[Donny]

Simpson made 75 and Love, 52 and at 6/202, The Bulls were in a position to be bundled out of the Pura Cup for the year but Nye and Bichel have added an 80 run partnership for the 7th. wicket to see the stumps score on 6/282.

Bracken has 3/42 and Nicho, 2/68. McGrath's 17 overs haven't produced a wicket but he's only conceded 26 runs.

[Donny]

The Blues hopes of making the final are diminishing with every run scored in this substantial 7th. wicket partnership from Nye and Bichel.

Who's Nye ? 25 y.o. Aaron Nye is making his debut in first class cricket and it's a beauty. He's 90 n.o. and his stand with Andy Bichel has reached 156. Bic is 87 n.o. and The Bulls are 6/358.
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Bichel reced past Nye to 112 before being stumped from Clarke's bowling. The partnership was 189. 7/401. Nye is 98 n.o.
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Nye goes to his debut century with a boundary. Top effort.
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Lunch. 7/406.

[Donny]

The Bulls declared on 9/418.

Glen McGrath came thriough a good workout with the excellent figures of 24.1 overs, 13 maidens, 2 wickets for 43 runs.

NSW are 3/103 after 43 overs with Bevan on 43 n.o. and Steve Waugh, 19 n.o.

Whatever happens here, it looks like curtains for The Blues as Tassie look like taking first innings points in Hobart.

[Donny]

Looks like Tugga's determined to get a ton in his last game.

He's 60 n.o. and is fast catching Bevo, who's 63 n.o. 3/162.
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Guess who's not a happy boy then ??

60.1 Hauritz to SR Waugh, OUT: bit short, Waugh has a swing at it,
Hartley takes the catch, umpire Lock gives him, Waugh shows his
displeasure

In character till the very end.

He made 65. Bevan is 71 n.o. 4/177.

[Donny]

Bichel serves it up


By Will Swanton - Fox

Andy Bichel is good this time of year. The Australian discard's all-round skills and Queensland's State of Origin-style siege mentatility have NSW on the ropes going into the third day of the Pura Cup match at the SCG.

In this game and the big picture, the Blues are almost gone.

Tasmania is on the verge of taking first innings points against Victoria at Bellerive Oval, a result which will effectively knock the defending champions out of the competition and ensure Steve and Mark Waugh bow out of all cricket this weekend.

NSW resumes tomorrow on 4-177 with Michael Bevan on 71 and Mark Waugh yet to score in reply to Queensland's 9(dec)-418, a healthy total made possible by Bichel's career-best 112 and Aaron Nye's 102 on debut.

A typically defiant 65 from the NSW skipper sparked another standing ovation – and chants of Steve Waugh (clap, clap, clap), Steve Waugh (clap, clap, clap) – from 3509 spectators in his last game at the SCG.

He'll go to bed tonight convinced there's still some way the Blues can defend their title.

But their chances nose-dived when Waugh was dismissed in the shadows of dusk, caught by wicketkeeper Chris Hartley from the slow bowling of Nathan Hauritz.

Waugh was unhappy with the decision of umpire Ian Lock and hesitated before walking off.

Bichel was in a belligerent mood.

Exactly 12 months ago, back when he was still considered worthy by national selectors, the then 32-year-old workhorse was in the middle of a golden run at the World Cup.

He had just taken a rip-roaring 7-20 and made 34 not out in a match-winning partnership with Bevan against England at Port Elizabeth in South Africa, and was about to crack 64 alongside Bevan at the same venue against New Zealand to keep Australia's ultimately successful tournament on track.

He's since been assigned to the international scrap heap, but his abilities and competitiveness remain.

Bichel's celebrations at the World Cup were almost tame compared to his reaction to reaching three figures today – his second ton for the Bulls.

He whipped off his maroon helmet, kissed it, threw his arms in the air, bolted past the pitch and pointed his bat towards his hooting and hollering teammates on the players' balcony.

Bichel, whose 189-run partnership with Nye rescued the Bulls from the perils of 6-202, went on to take the vital wicket of Michael Clarke, the young tyro who fell for 13 to a tempestuous pull shot that was caught on the square leg fence.

Bichel took 1-33 from 14 overs.

Queensland limped into this crucial game with seven regular players unavailable against a NSW side overflowing with stars, but veteran Stuart Law predicted on match-eve the visitors would thrive as underdogs.

"Queensland, who are Queensland?" said Law.

"Down this part of the world, it's in everything we do.

"NSW and Victoria are supposedly better, but that's good for us. If we come here and no-one is really talking about us, there's no pressure on us. There's a lot of pressure for the other team to get into that final."

Especially now, given Waugh said on Wednesday there would be "no excuses" if his full-strength XI failed to win outright.

Queensland can still make the final if they beat NSW outright, but only if second-placed Tasmania fails to beat top-ranked Victoria by the maximum margin in Hobart.

Law dropped a hot chance off Bevan at second slip before the left-hander had scored.

The full ramifications are yet to be seen. QUEENSLAND FIRST INNINGS 9 (dec)-418

[JLC]

Not surprisingly Hohns was at the game mainly to see McGrath one would assume.

jlc

[Donny]

Well, he would be casting an eye over the Pigeon but more checking on your mate, Bevo. The word is he's a real chance to go to India.

Now wouldn't that put a smile on the old JLC's face ?

[Donny]

Bevan is 79 n.o. and Mark Waugh, 11 n.o. as rain interrupts play.

The Blues are 4/196 and the last thing either team needs is more rain but that's the prediction.

A 'no result' or just first innings points will be of no use to either as The Bulls are 4 points behind Tassie and The Blues, 5.

[Donny]

It's looking more and more like a Bushies/Tigers final.

NSW declared overnight but after only 7 balls, this morning, the rain tumbled down.

This will be most frustrating for these two teams especially The Bulls. They had a real chance of making the final if they could've gained maximum points here and Tassie only got first innings points.

[Donny]

Not over yet folks !!

Play finally got under way and The Bulls declared on 1/54 leaving NSW 277 from 55 overs to win.

This is real 'cat amongst the pigeons' stuff. All bets are back on.

If The Bulls can get 10 wickets, they're still a very good chance to make the final especially if Victoria pull off a win in Hobart. Actually, if The Bushies and Bulls do both win, they WILL be the finalists.

The other tantalising prospect is this: If NSW and Victoria win, THEY'LL be the finalists !! Tassie will lose their first innings points if The Bushies beat them outright so NSW can pip them, by 1 point.

Phew !!

[The Prototype]

But will the Bushie lose the match and play Tassie in the final? Or will they just try their hardest for a draw? Going to make the finish a great one.

[Donny]

Yes, if The Bushies don't fancy playing The Bulls or The Blues, they could just lose outright in Hobart. That would take care of that.