Queensland’s inspired choice to bowl first at batting-friendly Allan Border Field has paid off in spades with three Test big guns all dismissed cheaply and NSW’s top order routed within an hour on Friday.
Explosive opener David Warner (2), Test skipper Michael Clarke (8) and star allrounder Shane Watson (33) were all among the Sheffield Shield wreckage as the Blues stumbled to lunch at 4-86.
In scenes that would concern the Australian Test selectors, all three were caught off edges before the first drinks break.
Stand-in Bulls skipper Chris Hartley surprised many be electing to bowl first on winning the toss at the small, picturesque Albion oval.
But with some grass on the pitch and a stiff breeze prevailing, the injury-depleted Queensland attack got good movement through the air and off the wicket.
Alister McDermott struck first by having opener Scott Henry caught behind in the third over before Luke Feldman followed up seven balls later with the prize scalp of Warner, who played forward and nicked low to Nathan Hauritz at third slip.
Watson and Clarke took the score from 2-13 to 2-44 before Clarke played a forward defensive shot only to be caught behind.
Watson rode his luck a little early but was in a typically-destructive mood, racing to 33 off 36 balls, including a massive pulled six into the Queensland Cricket car park, before he also snicked Feldman (2-25 off nine overs) to Hauritz.
It could have been worse for the Blues when Peter Nevill edged the lanky Gannon, a replacement for injured strike bowler Ben Cutting, between first and second slip before he’d scored.
But Nevill (13 not out) and Nic Maddinson (18 not out) battled through to lunch with a 34-run rearguard stand.