Queensland skipper Chris Hartley admits he does not have a clue what he will do if he wins the toss on Friday in the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at the newly-turfed Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
The new pitch proved something of a minefield when South Australian took outright points in just over two days and Hartley said it again looked a green top when he inspected it on Thursday.
“Having had a look at the pitch, I’m really not sure what you’d do if you won the toss,” Hartley told AAP on Thursday.
“It’s definitely an interesting deck.
“We both have to bat and bowl on it and the team that does that best will win.
“I’m not sure what we’ll be doing at this stage.”
Hartley said the wicket had a healthy covering of grass on it when he had his first look at it.
“You’d expect it to seam around a bit but it was reasonably hard – it wasn’t soft,” he said.
“We saw how the strip played last week between South Australia and Tasmania when the ball dominated the bat and runs were gold.”
Queensland can jump to the top of the ladder with an outright win and, with paceman Ben Cutting returning, will unload their speed bowlers on Tasmanian dangerman Alex Doolan.
Hartley complimented Doolan, who is in sparkling form this season averaging 122.75, on his development over the past 18 months that was highlighted by a classy 161 not out for Australia A last week against South Africa.
“He’s got a very organised game, he scores all around the wicket and he keeps it very simple,” he said.
“I certainly wasn’t surprised that firstly he got the Australia A call up and, secondly, that he did well.
“He’s been a very consistent run-scorer for Tasmania for the last few seasons.
“They try to build their innings around him batting at three or four and he will be a key wicket for us.”
Cutting, back after being passed fit following a 3-19 grade haul for South Brisbane, will be trying to do the same along with the in-form Alister McDermott.
“He will be keen to get out (there), as will all our quicks, to exploit any conditions they can,” Hartley said.
Queensland: Chris Hartley (capt), Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Luke Feldman, Peter Forrest, Cameron Gannon, Nathan Hauritz, Alex Kemp, Usman Khawaja, Alister McDermott, Nathan Reardon, Wade Townsend. (12th man to be named).
Tasmania: George Bailey (capt), Aiden Blizzard, Jackson Bird, Luke Butterworth, Mark Cosgrove, Xavier Doherty, Alex Doolan, Ben Dunk, James Faulkner, Jason Krejza, Tim Paine, Sam Rainbird. (12th man to be named).
