Test hopefuls trade wickets in wild west clash

A couple of potential Baggy Green pacemen have used their opening round Sheffield Shield as an audition for higher honours, with Queensland's Xavier Bartlett and Western Australia's Jhye Richardson both claiming five-wicket hauls in a see-sawing affair in Perth.

With a day remaining, the Bulls require another five wickets to win while hosts WA need a further 67 runs, with Bartlett a chance to add to his six victims so far in the match.

His first-innings five-wicket haul included middle-order pair Aaron Hardie and Joel Curtis amid a burst of three wickets in six balls, before he closed out the WA innings with the final two wickets.

"I thought we bowled really well in partnerships and I was just lucky enough to get the rewards," the 27-year-old said. "Our bowlers were outstanding; I think that's probably the best we've bowled as a group in a long time. So to have that impact on the game and get us into a strong position in the first innings, it was nice to contribute."

On day three, the right-armer claimed the big wicket of Cameron Bancroft as WA set about their fourth-innings pursuit of 201.

"We talked about building back-to-back maidens ... and then eventually got 'Bangers' (Bancroft) out – it was nice to see the back of a quality player," he added. "I just think the way this bowling group's developing ... it's nice, everyone's chipping in ... hopefully we can got those last four or five wickets and win the game."

WA quick Richardson meanwhile tore through Queensland on day three, leading a rout of the visitors – who were bowled out for just 68 – with his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket since an Ashes Test in December 2021.

The right-arm quick lost his Cricket Australia contract this year but has spent time in the UK and with Australia A as he looks to get regular game time under his belt, and up his speeds in the process. 

"Being so far behind in the first innings, we knew we had a big job to do coming into day three, the moving day," he said. "I actually feel like I bowled better yesterday without the reward ... but it's a nice reminder of how quickly the game can turn.

"That's what everyone was telling me – 'just hang in there, stay patient ... and luck will change'. It was nice to see that come to fruition as quickly as it did and it's just good be able to put WA in a position to win the game."

Richardson, who played the most recent of his four Tests last Boxing Day in Melbourne, took three wickets in an Australia A first-class clash against India A just prior to this Shield fixture.

"It's nice to be available and playing," he said. "I thought it might be a bit tight coming home from India with only a five-day turnaround, but I managed to get up for this game, and the body is holding up, so there's not too much to be disappointed about."

Having turned 30 last month, Richardson feels he has benefited from a rigorous pre-season at the WACA as he bids to get back into the Test setup.

"With the pre-season I've had ... spending a lot of time with the lads and (we're) feeling like we're building towards something again after a couple of lacklustre years," he said. "Having a difficult preseason like we did, and doing hard things together, we have a real sense of connection now, and the reward for me now is spending time out in the middle with the guys after a tough few years.

"Obviously I've had a small taste of (Test cricket) and desperately want to get back there, but I know for me now it's just trying to stay on the park and actually enjoy playing cricket ... and bowling a lot of overs; I had 30-odd overs in India so to then back it up with another 29-30 here, I think that puts me in good stead for the rest of the season."