Sheffield Shield Final.

[Donny]

Starts on Thursday, from the Junction Oval. 5 day match.

Victoria v. TBA.

If NSW can force a win against Tasmania, today, it will qualify second. The intriguing factor being the possibility of rain.

If not, WA will be Victoria's oppo.

The Vics can win the Shield with a draw, whereas the other finalist must win outright.

Nic Maddinson (broken thumb) will miss and is likely to be covered by the vastly experienced Cam White.

Likely Vic. team:

Harris
Dean (capt)
Pucovski
White
Short
Gotch (wk)
Pattinson
Siddle
Tremain
Boland
Holland

Fekete (12th.)

Anyone I've missed ?

[Donny]

Bearing in mind a draw gives Victoria the title, it's possible Victoria could play an extra batsman and leave Boland out, utilising Matt Short's off-spinners in the 5th. bowler role, if needed.

[Donny]

NSW thrashed Tasmania.

Final: Victoria v. NSW.

[Donny]

Oops. New rules for the final.

The only reward for finishing top of the ladder is a home final. If it's a draw, bonus points will decide the winner.

[K]

Media are saying Maddinson's wrist is broken and needs surgery. ...

[Donny]

Squads.

Victoria: Travis Dean (c), Cameron White, Scott Boland, Andrew Fekete, Seb Gotch, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Jon Holland, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Matt Short, Peter Siddle, Chris Tremain, Eamonn Vines.

NSW Blues: Peter Nevill (c), Sean Abbott, Nick Bertus, Harry Conway, Trent Copeland, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Nick Larkin, Steve O’Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Jason Sangha, Greg West.

[K]

I'll predict 4 or 5 ducks.

[Donny]

Travis Dean won the toss and elected to bat first.

0/36 after 10 overs.

Dean 17*, Harris 18*.

[Donny]

The elevens.

Travis Dean (c), Marcus Harris, Will Pucovski, Cameron White, Matt Short, Seb Gotch (wk), James Pattinson, Chris Tremain, Peter Siddle, Scott Boland, Jon Holland

NSW Nick Larkin, Daniel Hughes, Kurtis Patterson, Moises Henriques, Jason Sangha, Jack Edwards, Peter Nevill (c/wk), Trent Copeland, Sean Abbott, Steve O'Keefe, Harry Conway

[K]

Five batsmen, five bowlers! This was not quite predicted. (Well, not by Fairfax -- one article suggested Siddle could miss out -- but I see it was by Donny above.)
Should I upgrade my 4-5-duck prediction?
(No. Pattinson predicted a flat track. Downgrade then?)

[K]

Pattinson: "Some balls - if you're a bit off - it swings own the leg side, so the thing with the Dukes, throughout the 80 overs it is a ball that offers you something. You might be 60 overs in and it is still swinging. As a batter, you've still got to concentrate, and as a bowler you're still in the game, where sometimes when the wicket's flatter, you've just got to contain for a while and try to contain the runs until the new ball comes.

"With the Dukes I just feel like you're in the game throughout the 80 overs, but it is difficult to bowl sometimes if it's swinging too much and a few of the bowlers have said 'how do we stop the ball from swinging too much because I can't get it in the spot I want?'. So that's a challenge it throws up, but all in all the bowlers do enjoy bowling with it. A lot of the bowlers enjoy the Kookaburra too; it's just another challenge for the batters, so it's good for cricket."

[Donny]

0/50.

Dean 21*, Harris 28*.

[Donny]

Dean out to Conway for 23.

1/70. Harris 39*.

[Donny]

Lunch. 1/87. 31 overs.

Harris 46*, Pucovski 11*.

[Donny]

1/96. Harris 55*, Pucovski 11*.