While Tasmania’s final XI for its round 6 Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland is to be officially confirmed, captain Matthew Wade expects Simon Milenko to get the nod on Friday.
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The Tigers will be forced to make one change from the side that defeated South Australia with Australian skipper Tim Paine to lead the nation against India in Adelaide from Thursday.
Futures League performers Sean Wallis and Charlie Wakim have been added to the state’s 13-man squad for the final four-day encounter until the Big Bash League wraps up in February.
Milenko has played one Shield match this season for a return of 56 runs and two wickets against Western Australia in October, while Wakim made a second-innings 93 in the Futures League last week and Willis hit 85 in the first innings to back up his round 2 century.
Wade said he enjoyed his first outing in charge last week and is keen to register the Tigers’ third win of the season against the reigning champions at Bellerive Oval.
Tasmania sits fourth overall, two points behind second-placed New South Wales and 4.5 points clear of the Bulls.
“It’s obviously a lot better when you’re winning games of cricket but I enjoyed it," he said.
“Our messages are always the same. I didn’t come in and try and reinvent the wheel.
“We’ve got the same KPIs, same messages going forward I’m just relaying them through a different voice.”
George Bailey got back amongst the runs after giving up the captaincy, scoring 28 and 63 against the Redbacks.
And Wade said he was impressed by Launceston quick Alex Pyecroft’s debut after collecting 3-52 across two innings.
“He (Pyecroft) was great. I think the conditions [at Bellerive] really suit his bowling as he bowls nice and full and gives the ball an opportunity to move,” Wade said.
“I suppose [whether the BBL has come at the wrong time or not] will depend on how we go this week, if we win this game then we’d like to keep rolling with Shield cricket.
“BBL is a really good time for domestic players, the opportunity we have to get in front of a lot of people over that period of time – Christmas and New Year – it’s something all domestic players look forward to.”
The Hobart Hurricanes’ first match is on Saturday, December 22 against Brisbane Heat on the Gold Coast.
TASSIE SQUAD
Matthew Wade (C), George Bailey, Gabe Bell, Jackson Bird, Alex Doolan, Jake Doran, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Simon Milenko, Alex Pyecroft, Jordan Silk, Charlie Wakim, Sean Willis.
- Test latest: Pages 34-35
Corey Martin
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
