South Australia v Queensland, how to watch, updates, Usman Khawaja

Nathan McSweeney’s decision to bowl first has been vindicated by his bowlers with Queensland bowled out for 95 on day one of the Sheffield Shield final at Karen Rolton Oval.

It broke the unwanted record for lowest team score batting first in a Sheffield Shield final.

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The South Australian quicks were electric with Brendan Doggett taking a six-wicket haul and Nathan McAndrew snaring a double, while all-rounder Michael Neser was the only Queenslander to score more than 13.

After winning the toss and choosing to field first, the South Australians were well on top after removing Test batters Usman Khawaja (2) and Marnus Labuschagne (0) cheaply, with the star duo receiving three lives between them during their brief stays at the crease.

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Khawaja was put down in the first over of the day by Ben Manenti at second slip off the bowling of McAndrew before soon after McSweeney dropped a dolly at first slip, again off the bowling of McAndrew.

The bustling seamer, who has captured 36 wickets at 19.19 this campaign, had to do the catching himself as Khawaja top edged a pull shot off Doggett to fine leg.

Labuschagne was almost on his way shortly after as the ball rolled back off his pad onto the base of the stumps but did not remove the bails.

McAndrew finally got a wicket of his own in the same over however, as Labuschagne guided a catch straight to Jake Lehmann at leg gully as the South Australians were cock-a-hoot with pulling off a plan regularly deployed against the number three at Test level.

It was part of a collapse of three wickets in eight balls as opener Angus Lovell was caught behind by Australian gloveman Alex Carey off Doggett for eight and a panicked Jack Clayton ran himself out for a golden duck.

Ben McDermott departed not long after, miscuing a drive to hand Buckingham a return catch, who hung on despite a juggle and concerns about his front foot being awfully close to overstepping. The dismissal left Queensland reeling at 5-22.

Neser and wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson se about rebuilding the innings with a 46-run partnership before Doggett (6-31 from 11.5 overs) ripped through Queensland’s lower order in the afternoon session.

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PREVIEW

Queensland captain Marnus Labuschagne has confirmed that Usman Khawaja will play in the Sheffield Shield final starting Wednesday at Karen Rolton Oval, and tips a week of off-field distractions to bring out the best of the Australian opener.

Queensland high performance manager Joe Dawes started a public spat with Khawaja, claiming he and the Bulls were unaware of the 38-year-old’s hamstring injury that kept him out of the final game of the regular season, also against South Australia at the same venue.

The ridicule gathered momentum as Khawaja was in Melbourne at the Formula One Grand Prix while the Shield match was taking place, and he later passionately defended himself in a press conference, calling Dawes’ allegations “categorically untrue” and expressing his disappointment.

Just as he responded to calls for his retirement during the home summer against India with a prolific tour of Sri Lanka, including a maiden Test double century, Labuschagne expects Khawaja to hit back at his critics with his bat.

“No, not at all,” Labuschagne said at the captains’ pre-game press conference when asked if Khawaja would be distracted by the lead up.

“If anything, it’ll probably improve his performance. He just loves the big moments. He’s been an amazing player for a long time, so I don’t think he’s going to have any issues with going out there and performing at his best.”

South Australia has won the toss and chosen to bowl first. Queensland opener Matthew Renshaw will not play the final, with his wife expecting their second child.

South Australia squad: Nathan McSweeney (capt), Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Henry Hunt, Jake Lehmann, Ben Manenti, Nathan McAndrew, Conor McInerney, Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Henry Thornton

Queensland squad: Marnus Labuschagne (capt), Jack Clayton, Lachlan Hearne, Usman Khawaja, Angus Lovell, Ben McDermott, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Tom Straker, Mitchell Swepson, Callum Vidler, Jack Wildermuth

Meanwhile, South Australia captain Nathan McSweeney has no qualms about putting his close friendship with Labuschagne aside for the coming five days.

There is a four-year age gap between the pair, but Australia’s Test number three has been a mentor to McSweeney ever since he came through the Queensland ranks as a junior.

The 26-year-old relocated to Adelaide in 2021 and the move has been a fruitful one, leading to captaining the state and the making his Test debut last summer.

The pair have stayed in almost daily contact in that time, but will be hitting pause for the Shield decider.

“Marnus has been great for me and my game, but when we’re out there tomorrow we’re definitely not mates and he’ll be trying his best to make runs, as will I,” McSweeney said.

“Obviously he’s a great cricket brain and he’s been able to be a successful international player for a long time, so I love talking about the game with him.

“And just life, and the challenges that come across us as professional cricketers.

“He’s a bit older than me, he’s seen a little bit more of it so he’s a great one to bounce ideas off and I’m very lucky how open he is about the game being an opposition player.

“There definitely won’t be any matey chat over the next five days, but he’s been excellent for me.”

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Labuschagne agrees as he recalled first coming across McSweeney at junior trials at Brisbane State High, where Labuschagne has recently graduated and was helping with the school’s recruitment program.

“I saw him there and I said ‘mate, we’ve got to get this kid’ and unfortunately he ended up going to Nudgee College,” Labuschagne said.

“And as he came through the ranks and played for Queensland in junior stuff, and then for Norths in (Brisbane Premier) cricket I just got to know him.

“Then he came into the squad and I loved his appetite to learn and his appetite to grow, and that’s probably what attracted us the most.

“I think appetite to learn and grow beats talent every day of the week.

“But tomorrow there’s going to be no friendly chat.

“It’s going to be all game face and we’re going to be trying everything to unsettle him and trying to get him out early because we know how effective he’s been this season for South Australia.

“So the friendship will (temporarily) finish probably at the end of today.”

Queensland are yet to confirm the final make up of their XI with one change necessary to bring Khawaja back in, neither are South Australia.

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