The team had an ‘honest’ debrief after being skittled for 32 but a spot in the Shield final remains in their hands
New South Wales are determined to have left their 32 all out in Tasmania. The defending Sheffield Shield champions were bundled out for their lowest first-class score in the previous round to leave them in a three-way race to reach the final later this month.
However, at the start of the final round which begins on Saturday things are still in their own hands when they face Queensland in Wollongong. The visitors were denied the chance to put some daylight between them when their previous game against South Australia in Brisbane was abandoned without a ball bowled.
“We were certainly quite honest with each other after the match which I thought was fantastic,” Kurtis Patterson, who will captain New South Wales in place of Peter Nevill, said. “I’ve been in some dressing rooms before where you probably don’t quite address those sorts of innings and you try and move on a little too quickly.
“I thought the way Phil Jaques and Pete Nevill handled it post-game was really professional and really honest from the playing group. Once we got on that flight back from Hobart we know there was a big job to do so there hasn’t been any more reflection on it.
“Think it’s quite simple, it’s about trying to absorb that pressure for longer periods of time and that’s what we didn’t do. How that looks for every individual is different but we have to find a way to absorb that pressure early. Queensland is a very good bowling attack so it will present a nice opportunity for us.”
There have, though, been ramifications from the record low which was the second time this season New South Wales had been skittled by Tasmania having been bowled out for 64 during the first part of the campaign – although on that occasion they responded to secure a remarkable victory.
Nick Larkin and Daniel Solway have been dropped which could open the way for a first-class debut for Lachlan Hearne, while young wicketkeepers Matthew Gilkes and Baxter Holt are both in the squad. Queensland’s attack with include Michael Neser and the fit-again legspinner Mitchell Swepson.
The home side will also be without their two leading run-scorers with Moises Henriques at the IPL and Sean Abbott ruled out with the split webbing he picked up against Tasmania although they still have an impressive bowling line-up including Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon.
Patterson, who has captained New South Wales once before in a Shield match, urged his younger players to savour the occasion.
“I know from experience that sometimes it comes from within that you need to be someone difference or do something else because you are playing at a higher level, but it will be a pretty simple message from me that we’ve picked you all for a reason and we don’t need any more from you for this game. On top of that I really just want everyone to enjoy themselves…stay calm, be yourself and enjoy the opportunity.”
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo