The next wicket will be crucial after Queensland’s decision to bat backfired on day one of the Sheffield Shield cricket match against Victoria at the MCG.

The Bulls were 4-83 at lunch on Monday, with Peter Forrest on 30 and Nathan Reardon 15 not out.

They came together with the innings in disarray on 4-41 in the first hour and Will Sheridan on a hat-trick.

Sheridan had opener Greg Moller (25) and Chris Hartley (0) caught behind with consecutive balls at the end of an over.

Reardon then survived the hat-trick ball at the start of Sheridan’s next over and combined with Forrest to steady the innings.

While Sheridan and fellow opening bowler Clint McKay started well, there was clearly not too much danger in the pitch for the batsmen.

If Forrest and Reardon can settle in, it could be a long afternoon for the Bushrangers despite the early breakthroughs.

By lunch, Victoria had already used six bowlers.

Sheridan had taken 3-28 and McKay had 1-17.

Opener Luke Pomersbach played a loose pull shot off McKay and was caught for four, while Sheridan’s first wicket was first-gamer Dominic Michael well caught by wicketkeeper Peter Handscomb for a duck.

Queensland are top of the Shield table and Victoria are level on points.

The two sides are missing several players because of national duties and there are four debutants in this match.

Former asylum seeker Fawad Ahmed and Clive Rose came into the Victorian side, while Michael and Ronan McDonald are the new Bulls.

Victorian Marcus Stoinis and Ryan Harris are the 12th men.