Century-maker Cowan eyes Test comeback

Ed Cowan struck his fourth first class century this season to give Australian selectors a timely reminder of his talents as Tasmania took a 236-run lead into the final day of their Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia.

Cowan who is 111 not out at stumps after a first innings 147 admitted the fire to return to the Test team still burns.

“I have a deep desire to play Test cricket again,” the 32-year old said on Thursday at Bellerive.

“I feel I have changed my game to improve and I feel like I’m a 20 per cent better player than I was at the end of my Test career.

“I’d like to test that out against the best bowlers in the world under the most amount of pressure.”

With Chris Rogers failing in the first innings of the first Test against India – after an ordinary series against Pakistan where he averaged just 22 – Cowan is certainly applying pressure for a national recall.

While the Tasmanian said he backs those with a national cap, he wants to be the one who steps up in the case of injury.

At stumps on day three Tasmania were 4-176 in Hobart, the free-scoring Cowan adding the bulk of his side’s runs in a brisk 146-ball knock with 14 boundaries.

Support from his fellow Tigers proved harder to come by.

Fellow opener Jordan Silk (13) was trapped lbw in the 12th over, former Test batsman Alex Doolan (19) was caught behind and skipper George Bailey added 22 before heading back to the sheds, bowled by Joe Mennie (1-51).

Jonathan Wells contributed two before his dismissal on a CJ Sayers (1-33) delivery.

South Australia were earlier all out for 302 in their first innings.

Despite half centuries from Mark Cosgrove (79), Travis Head (64) and skipper Johan Botha (70), the Redbacks couldn’t push closer to the 362 target set by their hosts.

Tasmanian bowlers Andrew Fekete (3-58) and Ben Hilfenhaus (3-75) led the Tigers attack, with the former snaring the crucial wicket of Cosgrove in Thursday’s opening session.

Cowan will return for Friday’s final day along with James Faulkner (five not out).

Cowan’s performances in Hobart come after the 105 at Bellerive against Victoria in November and his 100 against West Australia at the WACA in October.

Admitting that he used to “smack the crap out of” the ball as a young batsman, Cowan said he has modified his approach and is in career-best form.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!