Mixed emotions for Sayers after SA loss

There were mixed emotions for Australian selection Chadd Sayers after South Australia's 128-run Sheffield Shield loss to Queensland at the Gabba on Sunday.

Never had Chadd Sayers been so ecstatic after a Sheffield Shield loss.

The South Australian was admittedly shattered after Queensland finally ended his stubborn resistance with the bat to seal a last-gasp 128-run win at the Gabba on Sunday.

The Redbacks were denied a gutsy draw when Sayers was the last wicket to fall, bowled by Jason Floros for 22, with 12 balls left on the final day.

But the smile quickly returned for the 29-year-old after being named in Australia's squad for this week's third Test against South Africa.

The late blooming swing bowler is expected to vie with Tasmania's Jackson Bird to replace dumped third seamer Joe Mennie at Adelaide's pink ball Test.

"There are mixed emotions at the moment - but I am sure I will get over that (loss) after tonight," a beaming Sayers said.

Pink ball specialist Sayers is full of confidence ahead of a potential Test debut on his home deck in Adelaide - but that wasn't the case not so long ago.

He emerged as a force when he topped the Shield wicket tally with 48 scalps at 18.52 in 2012-13 - only for the 130kph seamer to be told by national selectors he was "too slow".

"I guess when you are taking wickets and then told you are not quick enough you probably question why," said Sayers who took 0-79 and 2-43 against Queensland.

"But I pushed on, kept taking wickets and here I am.

"I am never going to be a bloke who blasts sides out.

"If I get the chance I am not going to change anything - I am going to keep doing what got me this far."

He was the only South Australian called up for the third Test after Redbacks teammates Callum Ferguson, Travis Head and Jake Lehmann all failed to impress with their last chance with the bat in Brisbane.

Test hopefuls Head (34) and Lehmann (10) fell earlier on Sunday in the Redbacks' second innings.

Incumbent Australia No.6 Ferguson had already squandered his last chance to impress, out for four in his second dig on Saturday.

However, Queensland's England-born Matt Renshaw earned a baggy green for the pink ball Test - albeit at the expense of his Bulls opening partner Joe Burns.

Renshaw, 20, hit 108 and a quick-fire 50 at the Gabba to earn man of the match honours.

But Burns failed again in Brisbane.

In his last six first class knocks, he has now amassed just 18 runs at an average of three.


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world