Tasmania have rebounded from the loss of three players from a debilitating bout of food poisoning to have the upper hand after day one of the crucial Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia at Bellerive.
The Tigers lost batsman Alex Doolan and allrounders Matt Johnston and Jeremy Smith on match morning after several members of their squad had spent time in hospital on intravenous drips.
Spinner Jason Krejza, who was also badly affected, bowled just 1.5 overs for Tasmania, who had already lost Mark Cosgrove with a fractured hand before he was among those hospitalised, and captain George Bailey (Australian duties).
The health crisis didn’t stop the home side skittling WA for 142 after Ricky Ponting had sent the ladder leaders in on another green deck.
At stumps, after bad light stopped play, the Tigers were 1-73 with Ed Cowan unbeaten on 47 and Nick Kruger on five.
Salmonella poisoning on the Tigers’ recent trip to Adelaide for matches against South Australia was suspected as the cause of the illness, with health officials in two states investigating.
With a one-day international final being played between Australia and Sri Lanka in Adelaide on Thursday, SACA chief executive Keith Bradshaw was attempting to calm fears, saying food preparation areas at the Adelaide Oval had been given the all-clear.
“Tasmanian team officials have told us that two Tasmanian players and an umpire are in hospital and that two other players have been withdrawn from play due to illness,” Bradshaw said.
“Traces of salmonella and a virus called norovirus are showing in tests from Tasmania but SA Health is continuing its investigation and the source and exact cause of the contamination is still unknown.”
Tasmanian paceman Jackson Bird took 5-32, his fourth five-wicket haul of the summer, removing both openers in the 13th over to have WA 2-20.
James Faulkner (2-35) chimed in with the key wickets of Shaun Marsh (34) and former Tasmanian Travis Birt (0) just before lunch and the Warriors went to the break at 4-72.
But only WA captain Adam Voges (49), Test discard Marsh and tailender Nathan Coulter-Nile (26) were able to reach double figures as the visitors at one stage lost 4-5 to be 6-77.
Cowan continued to mine his rich vein of form as he anchored the Tigers’ reply, but opening partner Steve Cazzulino fell for 18 shortly before stumps, edging Coulter-Nile to Marsh at second slip.
