Pacer Xavier Crone pulled off two sensational run outs in his follow through during a Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Queensland at the Gabba. In the first innings, Xavier Bartlett and Mark Steketee tried to steal a quick single after the former defended Crone’s back of a length delivery. However, Crone was quick to react in his follow through, pulling off a direct hit at the batter’s end, leaving Steketee well short of the crease. Similarly, he cloned the exact dismissal on Day 4 in the second innings, with Jack Clayton on the receiving end of the acrobatic effort this time.

Deja vu for Queensland as Vics quick Xavier Crone replicates ridiculous run out in both innings #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/YhDQhjP2O0

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 27, 2024

Recapping the match, Sam Elliott and Todd Murphy combined with seven wickets to power Victoria to a 90-run win over Queensland in their pink-ball Sheffield Shield contest on Wednesday.

Elliott bagged four while Murphy picked another three as Queensland were bowled out for 238 while chasing 329 for victory. Ben McDermott (68) was the only batter for Queensland to score 50 or more.

Earlier on Day 3, Campbell Kellaway scored his maiden Sheffield Shield century to put Victoria in the box seat. Queensland slumped to 3-58 at stumps while chasing 329 for victory. 

Kellaway made a seven-ball duck in Victoria’s sub-par first-innings total of 186 as Queensland posted 297 to take a 111-run lead. However, Kellaway in a class of his own in Victoria’s second innings.

The 22-year-old with Marcus Harris, who was snubbed by Australia for the 1st Test against India, for a 154-run opening stand to catapult the Vics back into the contest.

Harris hit 64 before Tom Rogers (69), Matt Short (59) and Peter Handscomb (35) also chipped in with crucial knocks, taking Victoria to 439.

Former Australia batter Matthew Hayden has weighed in on India’s shock 0-3 loss at home to New Zealand earlier this month. The loss was a huge blow to India’s hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The Rohit Sharma-led will be under significant pressure with a five-match Test series against Australia just around the corner. However, Hayden labelled the defeat against New Zealand, which was their first home Test series defeat in 12 years, as the reality check India needed. 

“It’s probably the kick up the a**e that India need. Even though India copped a drubbing in that series … and were lightweight in terms of their own performance … the fact that they’ve played long format cricket is an advantage from a preparation point of view,” Hayden told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Hayden also suggested time will tell whether Nathan McSweeney will have a great Test career, adding that for him, he looks to be a good choice in opening the batting during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 

McSweeney got the nod to open the batting for the all-important five-match series against India via knocks of 39 and 88 not out as a number four batter in the first four-day game against India A at Mackay, before amassing scores of 14 and 25 as an opener in the second four-day game at Melbourne.

He generally bats at number three and four in domestic cricket but is now all set to open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja at Perth, starting on November 22. “Time will tell. That’s the political answer. From a former opening batsman’s point of view, I’d like to just confirm that he’s a good choice.”

“It doesn’t really matter where you start (in the order). What really matters is you’ve got the character and the qualities that are required to play Test match cricket for Australia. I don’t personally know Nathan, but it’s been confirmed by (selector) George Bailey that he is a special talent and has been groomed for potential leadership roles,” said Hayden.

(With IANS Inputs)