Debate over whether Victoria should have opened with Aaron Finch quickly became a moot point as the Bushrangers crumbled with the bat on a green Gabba deck in their Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland.
The star studded Bushrangers lost 8-45 to be routed for 167 early in the final session despite captain Peter Handscomb staking a Test claim with a gritty 81 and Finch striking 50 batting at No.3.
At stumps the Bulls were 2-120 with Usman Khawaja, in his first match back since knee surgery last month, dismissed just before the close for 41 batting at No.3.
Khawaja looked untroubled in his 86-ball knock, stroking five fours and a six before being caught down the leg side off Test squad quick Chris Tremain (2-20).
Khawaja shared a 108-run second wicket stand with ex-Test opener Joe Burns (71 not out) after Matt Renshaw fell for just two.
Earlier Handscomb and Test opener Finch put on 116 for the third wicket but were the only Victorians to make double figures as the highly fancied visitors were routed, including Glenn Maxwell for a two-ball duck.
Victoria controversially ignored pleas from the likes of Shane Warne to pick Finch at the top of the order in his only Shield clash before next week's first Test against India, sticking with openers Marcus Harris and Travis Dean.
However, the move spectacularly backfired with Finch arriving at the crease in the match's first over after Dean was bowled for a five-ball duck by Michael Neser (3-39).
And the visitors were reeling at 2-6 after Test squad member Harris was caught behind for two.
Rookie Harris is in the Test opener mix with Finch and Queensland captain Khawaja, but missed a chance to impress after the Bulls won the toss.
However, Handscomb embraced his opportunity by striking 11 fours and a six in his knock of almost three hours as he vies for a Test middle order return.
"If higher honours come from it so be it but we are here to win a game for Victoria," Handscomb said of his Test chances.
"It was a bit disappointing the whole batting performance then to come out and bowl like we did, we just didn't execute."
Finch also impressed in his first red ball match since October's Test series loss to Pakistan in UAE where he made his baggy green debut.
He struck nine fours including a confident straight drive to the boundary off the first ball he faced.
"He started with a beautiful on-drive and that really got him going - he looked really solid," Handscomb said of Finch.
Six members of Australia's 14-man Test squad feature in the Gabba clash.
Share
