New South Wales seamer Sean Abbott has ripped the heart out of Victoria’s top order in a damaging spell at the SCG on Wednesday morning to further press his credentials for a Test debut.
The 33-year-old claimed three early wickets on day three as the tourists collapsed from 2-63 to 5-65 on a volatile deck, including the dismissals of nightwatcher Todd Murphy and first-innings centurion Peter Handscomb. All three wickets were bowled, including a chop-on for Victorian young gun Oliver Peake, with the Kookaburra showing signs of variable bounce on the unpredictable surface.
Abbott, still waiting for a baggy green having earned his maiden Test call-up in 2020, was included in Australia’s 15-player squad for next week’s Ashes opener in Perth, but is not expected to feature in the starting XI barring injury.
Victoria was 5-72 in the 30th overs, still leading by 326 runs, with Marcus Harris and Sam Harper unbeaten in the middle.
Elsewhere in the Sheffield Shield, South Australia was tasked with chasing a 217-run target for victory against Tasmania in Hobart after the hosts were rolled for 184 in the second innings. Tigers seamer Gabe Bell snared two early wickets, removing opener Henry Hunt and No. 3 Jason Sangha for a duck, with captain Nathan McSweeney and Test star Travis Head unbeaten in the middle.
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Uncapped quick sends timely Ashes statement with dream SCG spell – Shield Wrap – fox sports
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