Blues looking down the barrel at the Gabba.

Teen Aidan O'Connor bags his maiden first class wicket.

How far has Neil-Smith fallen since his long injury last year. Has lost his impeccable line/length and penetration and to be brutally honest he now looks run of the mill calibre.

Have seen three O'Connor overs and yet to see one swing. Looks perfect swinging conditions too and this kid does have swing ability..

Easier batting conditions today DC. Not a good toss to lose.

DC you remember fellow off spinners Ashley Mallet and Bruce Yardley, well betting had either of them played same # of Tests as Nathan Lyon in same era that they'd too be looking at 550 Test wickets. All three had similar ability imo, just that Rowdy and Roo were only given a fraction of Tests...

He has longevity on his side. Played his first of 135 Tests way back in 2011 DC. You are better at maths than me, work out precisely how many wickets per Test. Reckon a majority of his Aussie wickets were on last day spinning tracks with lotsa help from bowlers foot marks. He is moderate on...

Has the man from Snug put up his hand to bowl his offies? Feel if the case he'd have bowled before Travis Head. In fact Smithy has hardly used him for his medium pace

Josh Philippe is another terrific destroyer of a well planned spin attack. He and Inglis are very similar. I do think tho Philippe is the superior defender, as you also need a solid defense to be a good spin player. The best will always judge the length better than others and if tossed up will...

Mate that is the secret to playing a good spinner. You attack him and it throws him off his bowling plan. Dont let him settle and he will never dominate you. Steve Smith is our best player of spin because he is our best problem solver. Same as with pace.

I'd say very little and if anything it increases his speed. You can see what I mean by watching his two wickets on the CA website. One was a pearl.

The old trouper. Is still accurate but that deck made him look better than he is these days. The Blues have probably the weakest attack without the massive experience of Tremain and Bird. Hanno Jacobs impressed me tho. Tall with a whippy action.

CA need to tie him to Aussie white ball cricket otherwise he will lost to us in the plethora of T20 global franchises. Owen is better than a slogger DC.

He has bucket hands like Cam green.

Yep because it was lively grassy pitch. Far too much in favor of the bowler.

Australia will be satisfied with a 150 lead.

Looks a good all round prospect. Top score thanks very much.

In the other early game Blues have also won the toss and are bowling against the Bulls. Their pace attack, without Tremain and Bird, lacks experience. Debutant Pawson looks the pick so he should enjoy this lively Gabba track. Watch out for Hanno Jacobs, also debuting, tall guy with a whippy action.

Is it a green top as Viccos won toss and are bowling? Yes it is a green top. May be tuff going for probably the first session . Some interesting listings for the Tigers. NIV RAD, Aidan O'Connor, Raf MacMillan all debuting. Pleased to see selectors pushing the next gens.

I expect you have gone to Bellerive for Tassie shield game DC. Wish I was there too with the gang. I will follow the match on CA website sitting in my broken computer chair, while you guys sit in relative luxury inside the TCA rooms.