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On the opening day at the MCG, New South Wales took the lead over Victoria, and Mitchell Starc emerged victorious over Marcus Harris in a crucial match that might determine Australia’s team. Sean Abbott also added his name to the list of backup Test quicks.
Abbott claimed four wickets in front of a boisterous Sunday crowd of about 1800, and he may have earned more given his excellent, continuous fast bowling throughout the day, which included a fantastic stint after tea that yielded 3 for 0 in 15 balls and turned the tide in NSW’s favour.
Fighting half-centuries were made by Peter Handscomb and Campbell Kellaway under difficult conditions that suited the seamers.
Harris batted for 26 during the first session and was unable to get any more runs. Starc bowled really well in the morning, finding extra bounce and swing while bowling quickly, but he was not rewarded. Harris was unable to score easily, but he battled hard and performed passably. Starc pinned Harris just before lunch, leaving a big bruise in the shape of an egg on the underneath of Harris’s left arm.
After the interval, the left-armer came back and bowled Harris almost immediately after, then picked him up caught down the leg side. Harris lamented his bad luck, but Starc’s greater quickness and bounce prevented him from controlling the leg glance.
Against some superb bowling, Kellaway and Handscomb shared a century partnership, and NSW did not lose another wicket for the following 34 overs. Specifically, Abbott and Starc consistently beat the bat. Abbott was denied several half-shouts when Starc split the splice of his blade and splintered Handscomb’s bat with a blistering delivery that ascended from a length.
After tea, Jackson Bird broke the stand, dismissing Kellaway for 55 from 160 deliveries with a superb off-cutter that gave him the outside edge.
Then Abbott was back to wreak havoc. At number 64, Handscomb tried a longer drive, but Abbott was able to straighten the ball a bit, and Steven Smith had the advantage at second slip.
“They bowled beautifully,” Handscomb said. “They’re always going to be there or thereabouts, and not really give you any loose balls.
“We just kept telling each other just to try and fight and keep getting through. Because it’s tough for us out there but it’s also going to be tougher for the next bloke coming in.
“I think it’s a really good day for us today. We’re really happy with that situation. I think when you get sent in here day one where, if we can get somewhere between 180 to 220, we tend to feel like we’re still in the game.”