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Tasmania 281 for 6 (Silk 99*, Webster 64, Wade 51, Rocchioli 3-94) vs. Western Australia
The WACA pitch was noticeably flatter than the slower surface used in WA’s big season-opening win over Victoria.
Silk’s win looked like a good toss, but Tasmania got off to a terrifying start when Jewell edged a good-length Morris delivery to second slip for a golden duck.
With David Warner set to retire from Test cricket over the summer, Jewell is considered a contender to replace him but is likely to sit behind Marcus Harris, Matthew Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft in the pecking order.
The left-handed Jewell made 87 and a duck in Tasmania’s seven-wicket win over South Australia last week.
It was a stunning return from Morris, who did not play against Victoria with the workload managed after a stress-related back injury ruled him out of the Ashes.
In his initial four-over burst, Morris only occasionally returned to short-pitched bowling and focused on good line and length while packing the slip cordon.
Morris, who impressed in the Marsh Cup, has not played a first-class match since March, but has consistently bowled at a speed of around 140 kilometers per hour – significantly faster than his fellow bowlers.
He came back with the second new ball and dismissed the caught-behind Webster with a sharp, short-pitched delivery amidst a fiery explosion.
Morris bowled short overs all day and finished with 2 for 45 from 16 overs.
“He’s been chomping at the bit to play some cricket, and his rehabilitation from the back injury has been slow,” WA coach Adam Voges said. “He played well in bursts today, and his ball speed was good most of the time. He’ll be much better in the putts.”
After scoring a century against South Australia, Wakim had great touch and hit several attractive shots before being dismissed on 29 to all-rounder Aaron Hardy, who opened the bowling on the back of an excellent performance against Victoria.
WA relied heavily on the ever-improving Rocchiccioli, who entered the attack at number 10 and bowled long spells in the heat. He removed Brad Hope on the last play of the day to cap off a tireless performance.
Rocchiccioli finished with 3 for 94 from 25 overs and loomed as WA’s main bowler on day two with the temperature set at 36 degrees Celsius.
Tasmania will be looking to post a strong first-innings total, something that looked unlikely earlier in the day.
Silk and Wade jockeyed for lunch before taking control of the field as the pitch flattened and the West Australian batsmen began to tire. Wade played several trademark muscular knocks as he raced through a half-century off 69 deliveries.
Suddenly, Rocchiccioli, who had developed a knack for the main wicket, removed Wade who mistook a sweep to short leg. But Silke combined well with Webster, who played hard until he succumbed to Morris as shadows crept across the ground.
Former Test batsman Hilton Cartwright has returned to Western Australia after overcoming a knee injury but will not be bowled out in the match.
Morris replaced injured quick Cameron Gannon, while left-armer Liam Haskett retained his place after impressing in the Shield but going wicketless on the opening day.
Tristan Lavallette is a journalist based in Perth
