Australian one-day hopeful Daniel Hughes has been forced out of his side’s Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria after scans confirmed a torn calf muscle.
The 34-year-old pulled up after taking off for a single and was unable to put any weight back on his leg, forcing him to retire hurt on 22 amid a difficult first few hours for NSW.
Hughes may have been called upon to join the Australian one-day side in India if David Warner was not cleared fit to play, but the injury is almost certainly a fatal blow to his hopes of a national callup.
The left-hander had been in career-best form, leading the run-scoring in the Marsh Cup with 548 runs at an average of 78, including four centuries.
Victoria’s young fast bowlers caused problems on day one of the Shield fixture in Albury, with Mitch Perry claiming 4-24 and Fergus O’Neill also picking up two wickets as NSW was bowled out for 203.
Chris Green was again the first innings’ topscorer for the Blues with 52, and put on 57 for the eighth wicket with Trent Copeland to steer them away from trouble at 7-136.
Copeland removed Travis Dean before stumps to leave the Vics 1-15 in reply.
At the Gabba, another impressive cameo with the bat from Ben Manenti took South Australia into a strong position against Queensland after it had slumped to 6-111 earlier in the day.
The 25-year-old, who has nailed down a spot in the Redbacks side after moving from NSW via Tasmania, struck 88 from 101 balls to stamp his all-round credentials before he was dismissed by Xavier Bartlett late on day one.
The innings carried the off-spinner into fifth on the Sheffield Shield leading run-scorers’ list at stumps, with 534 runs at 49.
South Australia was 7-227 after 67 overs, with Bartlett and Michael Neser each claiming three wickets and Jake Lehmann earlier making an important 65 at better than a run-a-ball, after coming to the crease at 3-33.
Just before tea in Perth, Tasmania was 4-139 after winning the toss and electing to bat, with openers Tim Ward and Caleb Jewell both dismissed in the 40s.
Charlie Stobo had 2-20, as captain Mitch Marsh returned to the Western Australian side as a specialist batter.
Read related topics:Melbourne
