the Sheffield Shield, brought to you by a soggy breakfast: TAS

Tassie, the butler’s men

Players that wont be available for large chunks of the season

Ponting, sorry he should have been in the NSWales side, and maybe Krezja and Geeves.

Krezja and Geeves won’t miss many games this year, so Tasmania should be at full strength for most of the year.

Tasmania are at that great point where they have a great team, but they haven’t lost many players to the national team.

Should be hard to beat in all forms of the game.

Leadership

Daniel Marsh is in charge again, this could be his last year, so he will want to go out on top.

Can captain this chubby man.

Bowling

Geeves, Drew and Hilfenhaus are three young quick bowlers. Throw in Denton, if he is fit and it’s a great fast bowling line up.

Their spin is more than handy too, Krezja, Doherty and Marsh are all wicket takers as well.

A very well balanced attack, 20 wickets should come often.

Batting

Dighton, Bailey, Birt, And Paine are the backbone of the DiVenutoless batting line up.

Very workmanlike, but the batting sets up the games for their bowlers.

Paine and Bailey will need to step up this year and become superstars to handle the better attacks.

Long in the tooth

Everyone loves Daniel Marsh, but this will be the rotund fellas last year, Bailey will take over mid season or next season.

Ready to shed the nappies

Luke Butterworth was one I talked up last year, and he hardly played. This year he will play and dominate, I hope.

Nostradamus

Shield

1st or 2nd.

One day

1st.

2020

1st or 2nd.

The rub

Should be at the top, but couldn't take wickets last year.

The Phillip Seymour Hoffman teamwww.cricketwithballs.com... Aussie Haiku straight to your box