Cooper leads Redbacks with unbeaten ton

Scorecard

The Redbacks were 4-294 at stumps on Wednesday's opening day, with captain Johan Botha not out 59.

The pair rescued SA with an unbroken 193-run partnership against a Bulls side weakened by injury and illness.

Queensland summoned Papua New Guineans as substitute fielders after captain James Hopes, wicketkeeper Chris Hartley and paceman Ben Cutting were all nobbled.

Hopes was a late withdrawal with a stomach illness and was replaced as captain by Hartley - but he was forced from the field in the middle session with similar stomach complaints.

And Cutting bowled just four overs before injuring a finger, not returning after leaving the field just after lunch.

Having sent only 12 players to Adelaide, the Bulls called on emergency fielders from Papua New Guinea's team, known as the Barramundis, who are in the SA capital for a training camp.

Queensland assistant coach Justin Sternes also fielded - and took a catch.

SA's Cooper made the most of Queensland's misfortune, scoring more runs in his sparkling dig than he did in a dismal last season when he was dumped from the Shield team.

"It just made me that more determined when I did get in, to go big," Cooper said.

"And fortunately today, it went to plan."

Cooper cracked six sixes and 18 fours and dominated an unbroken 193-run partnership with Botha (59 not out) which steered SA from a wobbly 4-101.

Opener Michael Klinger was out for three, emerging batsmen Travis Head (33) and Sam Raphael (25) fell when well-set, and debutant Kelvin Smith made just one in a match played at beachside suburban Gliderol Stadium, due to ongoing redevelopments of Adelaide Oval.

Bulls paceman Luke Feldman took two wickets while Test spearhead Ryan Harris was impressive, taking 1-27 from 15 overs in his first long-form game since injuring his hamstring on Ashes duties two months ago.

Harris, watched by Australian coach Darren Lehmann, bowled with pace and rhythm in his first long-form game since tearing a hamstring in the final Ashes Test in England two months ago.

Harris played four one-dayers leading into the Shield but Wednesday was the first time he'd sent down more than 10 overs in a day since the injury.

"I felt okay the first spell, the second spell not so good, but with the old ball in the end, I felt real good," he said after spells of six, six and three overs.

"I feel it more when I'm not bowling. When I bowl, it warms up, it's fine."