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Must be hard to be a NSW selector with so much talent around.... 
Blues quicks facing harsh dismissals as Test stars return
Andrew Stevenson
October 18, 2007
THE NSW Blues took only 12 overs to mop up the West Australian tail yesterday on their way to concluding a comprehensive win at the WACA Ground in the first four-day match of the season.
Six points for the outright victory gave the Blues a flying start, with the win built on dominant performances by the fast-bowling contingent - all of whom are likely to be dropped for the side's next game, against Queensland, beginning at the SCG on Friday week.
With Australian players Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Nathan Bracken returning from India next Monday, the incumbent trio of Matt Nicholson, Doug Bollinger and Mark Cameron are likely to walk the plank.
Cameron, 26, who entered the match having played only two games for his state since his debut in 2002-03, can feel hard done by after being named man-of-the-match for his 5-33 first-innings haul. Included among those scalps were retired Test opener Justin Langer and highly rated batsmen Chris Rogers and Shaun Marsh.
Bollinger claimed his own five-wicket haul, including a hat-trick, as Western Australia's second innings ended on 193, chasing a target of 469. Rain and a draw were a more realistic option but quick wickets to spinner Beau Casson and Bollinger ended any hope for the Warriors. Bollinger finished with eight wickets for the match, with 5-38 in his second effort.
But the quicks also played a major role with the bat, getting the Blues out of trouble on what could have been a disastrous day one, and NSW selector Marshall Rosen praised their effort.
"Day one we fought a rearguard action from 6-53. It was a great effort from the bowlers who batted well, with Beau Casson getting 51 and Matt Nicholson 106 not out. We had a partnership of 40 between Nicholson and Mark Cameron who scored two, and a 45 partnership with Doug Bollinger," he said.
"We pulled ourselves up by the bootstraps, and by the end we were dominant."
Rosen refused to spell out the pace bowlers' fates but, provided Lee, Clark and Bracken are fit, all are set to play. The best their replacements can hope for is to carry the drinks.
Batting all-rounder Dominic Thornely, while welcoming the return of the Test stars, said the likely changes would be harsh. The return of spinner Stuart MacGill and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin will spread the pain further, with Casson and Daniel Smith likely to join the pacemen in the stands.
"This performance was a pretty special win for everybody. It's obviously going to hard on a few of the players but that just shows the strength of NSW cricket, where you can have guys like Mark Cameron and Doug Bollinger who can be bowling almost at Test match level this early in their careers," Thornely said.
"It's a harsh environment but we're well aware of it. You cherish every game of cricket you get to play for NSW because sometimes you're good enough but there's a great player there who means you don't get a game."
The first-innings revival was the turning point in the match, Thornely reckoned.
"It wasn't just Matt Nicholson but his partnership with the tail. Casson and Simon Katich batted well together and Nicholson batted well with both Cameron and Bollinger and put on 65 runs for the last two wickets. That was crucial," he said.
Blues quicks facing harsh dismissals as Test stars return
Andrew Stevenson
October 18, 2007
THE NSW Blues took only 12 overs to mop up the West Australian tail yesterday on their way to concluding a comprehensive win at the WACA Ground in the first four-day match of the season.
Six points for the outright victory gave the Blues a flying start, with the win built on dominant performances by the fast-bowling contingent - all of whom are likely to be dropped for the side's next game, against Queensland, beginning at the SCG on Friday week.
With Australian players Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Nathan Bracken returning from India next Monday, the incumbent trio of Matt Nicholson, Doug Bollinger and Mark Cameron are likely to walk the plank.
Cameron, 26, who entered the match having played only two games for his state since his debut in 2002-03, can feel hard done by after being named man-of-the-match for his 5-33 first-innings haul. Included among those scalps were retired Test opener Justin Langer and highly rated batsmen Chris Rogers and Shaun Marsh.
Bollinger claimed his own five-wicket haul, including a hat-trick, as Western Australia's second innings ended on 193, chasing a target of 469. Rain and a draw were a more realistic option but quick wickets to spinner Beau Casson and Bollinger ended any hope for the Warriors. Bollinger finished with eight wickets for the match, with 5-38 in his second effort.
But the quicks also played a major role with the bat, getting the Blues out of trouble on what could have been a disastrous day one, and NSW selector Marshall Rosen praised their effort.
"Day one we fought a rearguard action from 6-53. It was a great effort from the bowlers who batted well, with Beau Casson getting 51 and Matt Nicholson 106 not out. We had a partnership of 40 between Nicholson and Mark Cameron who scored two, and a 45 partnership with Doug Bollinger," he said.
"We pulled ourselves up by the bootstraps, and by the end we were dominant."
Rosen refused to spell out the pace bowlers' fates but, provided Lee, Clark and Bracken are fit, all are set to play. The best their replacements can hope for is to carry the drinks.
Batting all-rounder Dominic Thornely, while welcoming the return of the Test stars, said the likely changes would be harsh. The return of spinner Stuart MacGill and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin will spread the pain further, with Casson and Daniel Smith likely to join the pacemen in the stands.
"This performance was a pretty special win for everybody. It's obviously going to hard on a few of the players but that just shows the strength of NSW cricket, where you can have guys like Mark Cameron and Doug Bollinger who can be bowling almost at Test match level this early in their careers," Thornely said.
"It's a harsh environment but we're well aware of it. You cherish every game of cricket you get to play for NSW because sometimes you're good enough but there's a great player there who means you don't get a game."
The first-innings revival was the turning point in the match, Thornely reckoned.
"It wasn't just Matt Nicholson but his partnership with the tail. Casson and Simon Katich batted well together and Nicholson batted well with both Cameron and Bollinger and put on 65 runs for the last two wickets. That was crucial," he said.
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