As happy as Queensland coach Darren Lehmann would have been after the Bulls' day one fightback in their Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria at the Gabba, national selectors probably wore the biggest grins on Wednesday.
Barely a month before they are expected to combine at the same venue in the first Test against South Africa, quicks Peter Siddle (3 for 36) and James Pattinson (2 for 29) tore apart the Bulls top order before John Hastings (4 for 41) cleaned up the tail as Victoria routed the hosts for 149.
And selectors were given a not so subtle reminder of Australia's bowling depth when Ben Cutting - 12th man at last summer's Gabba Test - helped the Bulls roar back with 2 for 16, reducing the Bushrangers to 6 for 103 by stumps.
Alister McDermott (2 for 18 off 11 overs) did the early damage for Queensland, ably supported by Luke Feldman (2 for 28) who claimed the prized scalp of David Hussey (7) before Cutting's heroics.
In an indication of how tough batting was on a day 16 wickets fell, the unbeaten 35-run seventh wicket stand by Matthew Wade (38 not out) and Siddle (12 not out) was the highest of the match to date.
Wade was a rock for Victoria - an impressive feat considering the diminutive keeper had just returned from international Twenty20 duty in Sri Lanka along with fellow Bushrangers Cameron White, Clint McKay and Hussey.
"You had to fight pretty hard out there for your runs," Wade said.
"We were under pressure but I have confidence in getting a couple of partnerships and first innings points."
Their international quartet's return and Siddle's injection ensured Aaron Finch was named 12th man - days after his record 154 inspired Victoria's 190-run one-day win over the Bulls.
"He understands why we have gone in with an extra bowler," Wade said of Finch.
"We reckon we have some bowlers who are a really good chance of playing the Gabba Test so that's why they were picked."
Cutting would also count himself a chance after making up for lost time on Wednesday.
Surprisingly not introduced until the 22nd over of Victoria's first innings, Cutting claimed White (13) lbw with just his fourth ball and in his fourth over had Hastings (4) caught behind as the visitors slumped to 6 for 68.
It was an impressive comeback by Cutting who finished with 2 for 101 in Sunday's one-day loss to the Bushrangers at the Gabba - the most expensive figures in domestic 50-overs history.
Siddle and Pattinson sparked Queensland's first innings batting collapse - at one stage the hosts lost 3 for 5 in 12 balls.
In all, Queensland lost 7 for 64 after lunch with Usman Khawaja top scoring with 28.
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, melbourne-3000, vic, australia First posted October 10, 2012 19:20:14