NSW in control v WA at tea

New South Wales hold the upper hand on the first day of the season’s opening Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia at the WACA Ground at tea.

With leaden skies, a grassy wicket and a strong breeze greeting the players for a historically early start to the domestic first-class season, Blues skipper Michael Clarke was delighted to call correctly at the toss and give his bowlers first use of the favourable conditions in the season opener.

The Blues seamers responded as Clarke hoped, claiming the key wickets of former Test batsman Shaun Marsh (one) and Marcus North (12) cheaply as WA struggled in the opening session.

The Warriors middle order fought hard to steady the innings after lunch, but suffered a big blow when veteran Adam Voges was trapped LBW by Trent Copeland (2-36) just before tea for a hard-fought 44.

At tea, the home side were 5-137, with Mitchell Marsh on 24 and Tom Triffitt, the former Tasmanian making his first-class debut for WA, on one.

Voges and Marsh who had looked in good form after making a half-century in the one-day match between the sides on the Sunday, put on 69 for the fifth wicket after the Warriors had slumped to 4-66 just after lunch.

The Blues spread the wickets around, with former Test paceman Bollinger (1-37) claiming the important wicket of national hopeful Shaun Marsh, batting at number three, when the left-hander chased a wide delivery and edged the ball to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

WA captain North was guilty of sacrificing his wicket cheaply, top edging an attempted scoop around the corner to Bollinger at deep fine leg from the bowling of Josh Hazlewood (1-32).

Despite the presence of nine Test cricketers and the Australian captain, a threadbare crowd was in attendance for the first day of play.

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