Weatherald and Webster fail to fire in final match before Ashes as Starc and Doggett impress

Tasmanian duo Jake Weatherald and Beau Webster squandered golden opportunities to make an impression in the final Sheffield Shield round before next week’s opening Ashes Test, as fellow squad members Mitchell Starc and Brendan Doggett impressed with the ball on Monday.

With 14 of Australia’s 15 Test squad members featuring in this Shield round – Western Australia’s clash with Queensland begins on Tuesday in Perth – the nation’s leading players are chasing runs and wickets before facing England next Friday.

Weatherald (23) and Webster (13) failed to capitalise in Hobart against a South Australian attack led by Doggett, whose figures of 5-66 from 19.2 overs lifted his season tally to 12 wickets at 12.67.

Tasmania were bowled out for 209 before South Australia reached 3-88 at stumps, with Travis Head caught behind off Webster for nine.

It was also a productive day in Sydney for Starc, who snared 4-91 against Victoria on an SCG surface he described as “docile”. Victoria reached 7-340 at stumps.

The left-armer said he felt his rhythm had returned after a patchy ODI series against India, and urged curators not to produce conservative Test pitches this summer.

“I hope the groundsmen stick to their guns and prepare their wickets they want,” Starc said. “If we’re worried about five days of revenue, then there are bigger problems at hand.”

Batting on a green Bellerive Oval pitch after the Tigers were sent in to bat, Weatherald saw out a maiden over from Doggett before getting into his stride.

Weatherald edged a boundary through the slips cordon before hammering a cover drive off allrounder Liam Scott to get to 23.

The next ball was shorter and tighter to the stumps, cramping Weatherald for room, and he dragged it on. A clearly annoyed Weatherald wheeled quickly on his heels to walk back to the dressing room.

Webster arrived with Tasmania 4-104 but lasted just 32 balls before gloving Henry Thornton down the leg side to Alex Carey.

Webster, too, was unhappy with himself, punching his bat in frustration. Scores of 11, 6 and 13 this season won’t strengthen his case for a place in Australia’s XI as a showdown with Cameron Green for the allrounder’s spot looms.

Head’s failure, which came after Nathan McSweeney (2) and Jason Sangha (12) perished cheaply, raised eyebrows given he has not passed 31 in his past nine innings across all formats.

At the SCG, Victoria took day one honours before a healthy crowd of 1701 fans thanks to a century from Peter Handscomb (104), who made the most of his luck after being dropped on zero by Jack Edwards at first slip.

Starc, sharing the new ball with Josh Hazlewood, claimed three of the first four wickets in a lively red-ball return, removing Harry Dixon lbw for 20 with a swinging yorker before dismissing Campbell Kellaway (51) and Oliver Peake (0).

Hazlewood (0-54 off 18 overs) went wicketless, while Test squad member Sean Abbott (1-70 from 18 overs) toiled away all day and took the wicket of Fergus O’Neill (46).

Nathan Lyon struck in his first over, having Marcus Harris caught at short leg for five by Sam Konstas, before bowling Handscomb late in the day.

“To score runs is always nice, but to do it against those boys was special for me,” Handscomb said.

Victoria won the toss and elected to bat after a farcical coin toss from Steve Smith, who is likely to bat on Tuesday.

The NSW skipper appeared to drop the coin as he tried to flick it up. It fell on the ground, but the toss still counted, with Victorian captain Will Sutherland calling correctly.

Green is set to return to bowling for WA against Queensland on Tuesday after managing “side soreness”. Selectors hope he can deliver 15 to 20 overs to prove his fitness for the opening Test.