Tasmania vs Queensland, Sheffield Shield, Today Match Prediction 14 March 2023

tas vs queens Match Prediction & Analysis

This will be the last game of the league stage for both teams with Queensland fancying a chance to finish in the top 2. Tasmania are coming here on the back of two consecutive losses against Western Australia.

This will be Queensland’s first time in Hobart this season where they’re expected to do well. Their recent outings saw the bowlers come out on top and lead the team in their wins.

The pitch at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart has favoured the bowlers in recent games making it difficult for batters to score runs. As such, it seems like Queensland will have the edge over Tasmania going into this match.

Michael Neser, Xavier Bartlett, and Mark Steketee will be the key bowlers for Queensland. Tasmania’s Jordan Silk, Tim Paine, and Beau Webster aren’t consistent in the lower middle order and that will be a major concern for the side.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Tasmania Preview

Jordan Silk will be hoping to avoid a third consecutive loss as Tasmania meets Queensland in Hobart for their last Test of the Sheffield Shield. Silk and Beau Webster found a few good starts recently but failed to convert them into significant knocks that would help propel the score.

Caleb Jewell scored a hundred in his last game and along with Tim Ward in the top order will play a key role to get Tasmania on the right path. Macalister Wright is a promising player in the middle order but needs support from others.

The former Australian skipper Tim Paine hasn’t looked in good touch either and has become a liability in the batting order. Jackson Bird and Jarrod Freeman are the key bowlers to watch out for in this lineup. Like the batters, Tasmanian bowlers also haven’t been consistent in finding success. 

Wright was replaced by Ben McDermott in the last Test while Peter Siddle and Nathan Ellis made way for Riley Meredith and Lawrence Neil-Smith.

It didn’t make much of a difference to the bowling performance. Tasmania will need a much stronger response from their batters in this match. The middle order will play a key role in helping the side post a 300+ total.

Tasmania Predicted Playing XI:

Tim Ward, Caleb Jewell, Jake Doran, Macalister Wright, Jordan Silk (c), Tim Paine (wk), Beau Webster, Jarrod Freeman, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Jackson Bird, Riley Meredith

Queensland Preview

Queensland need a big win here to secure a spot in the final. Victoria is in third place with the same number of wins and are a close competitor in the race to the final.

Queensland started their Sheffield Shield season with a huge win over Tasmania in Brisbane. However, the centurion from that game, Marnus Labuschagne is not available for this match along with Khawaja.

Jimmy Pierson has been leading Queensland since Khawaja left for India for the 4-match Test series. Pierson scored a brilliant hundred at number 7 against New South Wales recently.

Queensland were 5 down for 80 runs when he came to the crease and ensured the team ended up with 304 runs on the board. Though they were trailing after the 1st innings, the bowlers helped them bounce back. 

And once again, the bowlers will be leading the charge for Queensland against Tasmania who have struggled with the bat big time. The bowlers seem to have got a knack for finding wickets in the 3rd innings and completely turning the game around. The batters have also shown a much better performance in the second innings.

Joe Burns and Bryce Street haven’t made it big in the top order but Jack Clayton and Sam Heazlett will be the key players in the middle order. All-rounders Jack Wildermuth, Michael Neser, and Xavier Bartlett can be handy lower down the order.

Queensland Predicted Playing XI:

Bryce Street, Joe Burns, Jack Clayton, Sam Heazlett, Max Bryant, Jack Wildermuth, Jimmy Peirson (c & wk), Michael Neser, Xavier Bartlett, Mark Steketee, Jack Sinfield

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The pitch offers help to both batters and bowlers and promises an even contest. It is slow early on but as the game progresses, it gets flat and batters will be able to score freely. The weather will be partly cloudy with a high of 24 degrees Celsius on day 1 of the Test. Hobart is expected to have a cloud cover for the remaining days of the game. 

Venue Details

There have been 4 matches so far this season at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. Two of these matches went in favour of the team batting first while the other two ended in a draw. The third innings of the match saw batters find it easy to score big while Tasmania failed to reach the 200-run mark in both of their innings.

Toss: To Bat

Of the 14 Tests played at this venue, teams batting first have won 9. While Queensland look in great shape and can even manage to win bowling first, the hosts must bat first to give themselves a better chance at winning. The batters on both teams aren’t in the best shape and are less likely to help them take a lead in the 2nd innings of the Test match. Setting a target and backing the bowlers to do their job on a balanced pitch will be the way to go.