Cricket news: Fans call for absolute smokey to make Test debut as replacement for Usman Khawaja

Sam Harper has fired another stunning message to national selectors that he could be Usman Khawaja's successor in the Aussie Test side. The in-form Victoria opener's unforgettable summer of cricket got even better in the Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania on Thursday after he belted a superb 93 off 115 balls to dig the Vics out of a massive hole.

A whopping 14 wickets fell on a dramatic day one in Hobart that saw Victoria bowled out for 222 after being sent in by the hosts. Tassie reached 4-52 by the end of play on day one, with Charlie Wakim (9) and nightwatchman Matt Kuhnemann (3) hoping to peg back Victoria's advantage when day two gets underway on Friday.

Victoria were in massive strife at 2-0 after veteran quick Jackson Bird (3-46) removed opener Campbell Kellaway and Blake Macdonald for ducks. But Harper came to his side's rescue and went within a whisker of notching a third Shield century in as many innings for the table-topping Vics.

Harper was the BBL's player of the season after scoring 371 runs at an average of 61.83 for the Melbourne Stars. And the 29-year-old has carried his extraordinary white-ball form into the Sheffield Shield after being promoted to opener to now rocket into Test calculations.

The 29-year-old suffered a scare when he struck on the helmet on 81 after a fierce bouncer from Tasmania's chief destroyer Riley Meredith (4-53). But Harper bounced back in style after hitting back-to-back sixes to close in on his third-successive Shield ton.

Sam Harper makes latest stunning case for a Test call-up

Unfortunately for the Victorian opener he fell just short after being caught in the deep by Beau Webster after skying one off Meredith through the off-side. Harper's partnership with Matt Short (40) helped turn the tables before his teammate was also caught in the gully off Meredith.

Harper's 119 and an unbeaten 141 in the previous win over Western Australia secured top spot for Victoria and guaranteed them hosting rights for the Shield final. And after his latest dazzling display, many fans are calling for Harper to succeed the recently retired Khawaja as Australia's long-term Test opener moving forward.

Tasmania facing uphill task in Shield clash with Victoria

Victoria seamers Fergus O'Neill (1-8 from nine overs) and Sam Elliott (2-13) capitalised on Harper's superb knock to rip through Tasmania's top order. O'Neill removed Tassie opener Macalister Wright for just 12, while Elliott picked up the wickets of Tim Ward (17) and home skipper Jordan Silk (2) to put the visitors on top.

Fellow quick Mitchell Perry also got in on the wickets to remove Tassie's other opener Caleb Jewell for two. The fourth-placed Tasmanians - missing Test opener Jake Weatherald due to back spasms - are locked in a four-way battle with Queensland, South Australia and NSW to secure a spot in the Shield final against Victoria. They host Queensland in a potentially decisive final-round game, beginning on March 14.

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