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

Victoria, the home of the brave

Players that wont be available due to committments in a lesser team

McGain, Hussey and White.

McGain won’t play one dayers, and other 2 won’t play tests, so they should have the majority of their team the majority of the time.

Along with Tasmania, has the best balanced lists, and made the finals of all three trophies last year for one Victory, would want to take one of the more important sides this year.

Leadership

This is the big test, this is the big bears team, and when the one dayers come around and he is busy, they will be looking forsome else to take over.

Brad Hodge will probably get the job, dammit, but I think Nick Jewell could be the man.

Bowling

Dirty Dirk Nannes, Eyelids Pattinson, Peter Siddle (Sizzle), Wright and probably Clint McKay are the quicks, and all genuine wicket takers.

Eyelids has come back to Australia as a legit first class bowler, and this is a pretty handy bunch of 5 bowlers.

Spin bowling is interesting, with McGain out, White is the only spinner I know of close to first class level, but young Kumar Sarna may get a go.

If White has to take the job as number one spinner, it may do him good to get th extra overs, but Victoria will miss Bryce.

Batting

The Middle order is still sexy, Hodge, Hussey and White, but they won’t have that for 6 weeks.

Chris Rogers has been brought in, as Victoria struggle to ever have two good openers at one time.

Last year it looked like Jewell had come of age, so if he and Rogers can provide solid starts, other states may be in all sorts of trouble.

Victoria do need to pick a keeper this year, either young Wade gets a go, or the X man continues.

Long in the tooth

There is no obvious players on the way out, Hodge and McGain being the oldest, but they are probably around for fair while yet. Damien Wright may not finish the season however.

Ready to shed the nappies

James Pattinson, brother of Eyelids, is supposedly a freak of nature, and I say get him in there at 7 before Notts try and claim him.

Nostradamus

Shield

1st or 2nd.

One day

2nd or 3rd.

2020

1st or 2nd.

The rub

If they can overcome the loss of Bryce they could win it all.

The Christian Bale sqaudwww.cricketwithballs.com... Aussie Haiku straight to your box