The Hurricanes’ batting order came under scrutiny during a very slow phase which ultimately left them short of runs

Andrew McGlashan11-Jan-2020A powerful half-century from Alex Hales set the Sydney Thunder on their way to a victory which took them third in the table, but they needed the calm head of Alex Ross to carry them through a late wobble against the Hobart Hurricanes.Hales and Usman Khawaja added 96 for the first wicket but a series of poor shots kept the Hurricanes in the game until Ross, who was an off-season signing from the Adelaide Strikers, got the job done with four balls to spare.The Hurricanes’ batting tactics had again been curious as they left Ben McDermott and David Miller until late in the innings. McDermott and George Bailey, who gave the innings some life, added 64 in six overs while some handy late blows from Clive Rose pushed them over 160.Middle-order muddleIn the last couple of matches the Hurricanes have used Simon Milenko at No. 3 and it’s been a questionable tactic, particularly with how he played in this innings. He is known as a strong hitter, but plodded his way to 17 off 21 balls which did nothing except dig a hole for the innings after Caleb Jewell had provided some early impetus in the Hurricanes’ equal best powerplay of the season: 1 for 51. There was a 43-ball period from the end of the fifth over to early in the 13th – which included the whole stand between Milenko and Bailey – where the Hurricanes did not manage a boundary. When Chris Morris hit Milenko’s leg stump it was a good thing for the Hurricanes and one of those wickets where the opposition may ponder how wise it was to take it. McDermott, who is an Australia T20 player, did not come to the crease until the 12th over and then took time to get himself in. He struck impressively towards the end of the innings, but it is something the Hurricanes will have to look at.Bailey’s reminderIt was Australia’s new selector who broke the shackles when he struck back-to-back sixes off Arjun Nair in the 13th over. He then took consecutive boundaries off Chris Tremain and deposited Morris over long-on with a brilliant shot played off his back knee. It was his most substantial innings of his final season – Bailey, who ended his Sheffield Shield career in December, will retire when the Hurricanes’ campaign is over to take up his role alongside Trevor Hohns and Justin Langer. The innings carried him over 4000 T20 runs and was a reminder of what he has been capable of. The TV replays suggested he didn’t hit the one he was given out to, instead striking the ground.Perfect platformThe Thunder’s chase was quickly out of the blocks against some poor powerplay bowling. Qais Ahmad was given an early over – the fourth – with Hales taking the majority of the 18 runs from it as he hit strongly down the ground. By the end of the six overs the Thunder were cruising on 0 for 66. Hales went to a 28-ball fifty and the back of the chase had been broken. He was given a life on 51 when McDermott couldn’t get a glove on a stumping chance, but it didn’t cost too many as Hales picked out long-off to give the Hurricanes their first opening, although when he fell the Thunder needed 67 off 58 balls and it should have been much simpler than it became.A wobble, but a winKhawaja picked out deep square, where Nathan Ellis lost the ball before clinging on, and when the in-form Callum Ferguson was lbw the pressure started to mount. Morris appeared to have struck the telling blows when he swung Ellis for a four and a six in the 17th over but lazily popped a catch down to long-on in the next over to expose the lower order. However, Ross was in control and did what Morris couldn’t by depositing Rose into the stands to bring the requirement down to 10. Daniel Sams played an awful swipe to leave four needed off the final over and when Nair was able to give Ross the strike back he hammered Ellis through point.

It was New Zealand’s 100th victory in Test cricket

The Report by Sidharth Monga24-Feb-202015:32

Star Sports Match Point: Styris and Manjrekar on where India went wrong

The big boys of New Zealand fast bowling, Trent Boult and Tim Southee, did the business with the old ball to seal their 100th Test win, on the fourth morning at Basin Reserve. Twenty-eight of those wins have come in matches that Boult and Southee have played together. Their pin-point planning and execution made sure India’s resistance on the third evening didn’t count for much. Boult started the slide, and Southee burst through the opening to bowl India out for 191, setting New Zealand’s batsmen a target of just nine runs. It ended India’s seven-match winning streak, and New Zealand’s run of three losses.India began the day 39 behind with six wickets in hand and 15 overs to go the new ball, hoping to set New Zealand some sort of target, but Boult and Southee were excellent with the old ball. On a clear and still morning, which aids swing in Wellington, they switched from their bouncers plan to look for more traditional modes of dismissals. Boult looked to set Ajinkya Rahane up for the lbw, but the pitch didn’t have enough pace for that to succeed. So he went around the wicket to get one to seam away a touch. Rahane had to play the angle, but the movement away took his edge.Then Southee got to his work of setting up batsmen. First up Hanuma Vihari who had toughed it out for 76 balls before this over started. Southee began with a full outswinger that didn’t tempt Vihari. Then he got closer and fuller, drawing a loose shot from Vihari, but not getting the edge. With the third ball, he scrambled the seam to play with the scrambled mind of the batsman. The ball pitched outside off and jagged back in. Vihari still had the outswinger in mind, and was bowled.Southee did the same with R Ashwin, whom he had bowled with an outswinger, first ball, in the first innings. This time the outswinger pitched and nipped back in to trap Ashwin in front. All seven wickets till this point had fallen to these two bowlers, so both were on for five-fors.Boult could have sealed his when he drew a bat-pad from Ishant Sharma with what was the last ball of his spell, but Tom Latham shelled it at short leg. Boult was off to take a break before the new ball became available. Colin de Grandhomme soon drew the uppish drive from Sharma, but now Southee dropped him at short cover. The second drop, as it turned out, ended up helping him getting the five-for. Before the new ball, though, de Grandhomme managed to get through the defences of Sharma.With India only slightly in lead, Rishabh Pant had no choice but to go after the new ball. As he flicked one off the pads off Southee, Boult pulled off a smart catch at fine leg to make it a matter of time. And that matter of time was only three balls for Jasprit Bumrah, who guided Southee to second slip for a low catch to substitute fielder Daryl Mitchell.The man he was substituting for, Tom Blundell, came out to bat and help knock off the target, which was a positive sign after he spent the whole second innings off the field with a shoulder injury he suffered when fielding in India’s first.

It entered fresh talks with the ACA and states to clarify its finances and assuage fears that it could go broke by August

Daniel Brettig20-Apr-2020Australian cricket’s state association owners have successfully pushed back against a Cricket Australia proposal to cut their annual grants by 45% amid the coronavirus pandemic. The governing body has entered fresh talks with the states and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) to clarify its finances and assuage fears that it faced the possibility of going broke by August.CA’s chief executive Kevin Roberts sent shockwaves around the organisation and the wider game last week by announcing that all but a handful of staff would have their pay cut by 80% until the end of June, while similarly desperate messages had been directed towards senior players and managers, including grim tidings about apparent dives in the value of CA’s investments, listed as being worth about A$90 million in the most recent annual report.It has since been clarified that from stocks to a value of A$22 million purchased in 2012, CA had seen their value rise to as much as A$45 million before they were pushed back to A$36 million by the financial shocks associated with the coronavirus outbreak.At the same time, CA’s total reserves, augmented by the most recent installment in their six-year A$1.18 billion broadcast deal with Fox Sports and Seven, are far from exhausted. However, there is understood to be some concern about the likelihood of the next payments being made in September.It was on that basis, in addition to worries about the scheduled men’s Twenty20 World Cup in October-November that precedes the India tour and the prospect of the Big Bash League and WBBL being played in front of empty stadiums, that CA proposed a 45% cut to the six states’ annual grants, which totalled more than A$127 million for 2018-19.However a majority of the states opposed the 45% figure, partly on the basis that it would force further cuts to staff pay and employment than had already been made – including the South Australian Cricket Association’s removal of 23 staff and contractors from their payroll – before the end of June.CA’s subsequent offer is for an initial 25% reduction, with inbuilt adjustments that may be made for events such as the cancellation of the India tour that would decrease the grant, or a successful staging of the same tour, which would likely increase it.The states are yet to agree to this new model and further financial information is still being sought from CA, but there is at least the conclusion that a 25% cut would mean minimal need for state associations to immediately reduce their staff numbers and also allow debates to move on to scenarios for 2020-21.In parallel discussions, CA and the ACA have been working on how to build in potential reductions to player pay under the principles of the fixed revenue percentage model that has characterised all collective agreements between the governing body and the players’ union since the late 1990s.Similarly to the states, these changes would likely include a great deal of flexibility related to the possibility of India touring this summer or being compelled to cancel their plans due to the coronavirus pandemic.Either way, it appears unlikely that there will be any improvement to the grim outlook set out by Roberts for shocked CA staff on Thursday last week, when the 80% pay cuts for all but a few staff until at least July were announced.Considerable disquiet remains about this move, not only in relation to CA’s actual financial position, but also the potential savings it brings in – believed to be only around A$3 million – and the lack of forewarning given to staff during Roberts’ frequent video-conference briefings during the coronavirus period.

ECB confirm allrounder has been tested for Covid-19

Matt Roller02-Jul-2020Sam Curran is self-isolating in his room at the Ageas Bowl after feeling sick on Wednesday night.Curran made an unbeaten 15 on the first evening of England’s intra-squad warm-up match, but took no part in the game after suffering from “sickness and diarrhoea overnight”, according to an ECB statement.The statement added that Curran was feeling better on Thursday afternoon, but confirmed that he would play no further part in the ongoing warm-up match. He has been monitored by the team doctor, Mark Wotherspoon, who was wearing full PPE during the assessment, and was tested for Covid-19 during the lunch interval.The news will come as a concern for England so close to the first Test. There is no suggestion, at this stage, that Curran has come into contact with the virus, especially within the bio-secure arrangements at the Ageas Bowl, which make it one of the most low-risk environments in the country.However, his illness will undoubtedly be a source of frustration given that he has been unable to bowl in this warm-up match after going so long without competitive cricket. Indeed, it is now difficult to see how will play next week, not least with so many other seamers in contention.The results of Curran’s Covid-19 test are expected back on Friday, although the protocols in the event of a positive result are not at this stage being divulged by the ECB. However, he would be likely to go into a seven-day self-isolation – it is unclear whether that would take place within the team bubble or at home – and Public Health England would also be notified.The remainder of the England players and management are due to be tested again for Covid on Sunday. At this stage, that testing date is unlikely to be brought forward. An ECB spokesperson confirmed that the West Indies camp and other stakeholders within the team environment had been notified.Amar Virdi, the offspinner, was a late addition to Team Buttler – although he was officially replacing Jofra Archer, who experienced soreness from new bowling boots – having initially missed out on the squad. He came on to bowl shortly before the close on the second day and took the final wicket to fall.The ECB is expected to issue a formal update on Olly Stone’s availability on Friday. Stone has played no part in the warm-up match due to a niggle in his left hamstring.

The Australia keeper-batter says domestic players struggle to combine cricket and a second career

ESPNcricinfo staff14-May-2020Alyssa Healy is concerned at the prospect of a reduction in Women’s Big Bash and National Cricket League matches, saying it could widen the divide between international and domestic players.Amid Cricket Australia’s financial battles due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all domestic cricket is set to come under pressure and it has been reported that cuts could be made to both female competitions as well as the Sheffield Shield.This comes on the back of an historic season for the women’s game in Australia which included the first standalone WBBL and finished with the T20 World Cup final in front of 86,000 people at the MCG – just days before global sport was shut down by the pandemic.ALSO READ: Megan Schutt braced for women’s game to feel impact of Covid-19In a column for the , Healy wrote the chance to build on that success cannot be wasted. She warned that for domestic cricketers the increasing demands of professionalism are not yet matched by earnings but such are the expectations to train almost year-round that many struggle to earn a second income.”Now is the time to seize the moment and improve the WBBL and Women’s National Cricket League even further,” Healy, who is also on the board of the Australia Cricketers’ Association, wrote. “Recent reports that consideration is being given to reducing the number of WBBL games is concerning. Such a move would be contrary to cricket’s aim to be a sport for everyone.”Not only would it defy the growth of the women’s game, but would amplify the divide between international female cricket and the domestic version.”Domestic female players are experiencing increased pressure to train ‘over and above’ their contractual obligations; many training for nine months of the year for a handful of WNCL and WBBL games.”With such expectation and increased demands from state associations and WBBL clubs, there is limited opportunity for many of our female domestic cricketers to build a second career outside of cricket. An increase in demand has not been matched with appropriate remuneration. As a result, many players are finding it very difficult to have a balanced life, which is resulting in an increased level of wellbeing concerns with the stress of finding a second income to cover daily living expenses.”Any reduction in domestic cricket would have to be approved by the ACA and they are set to be firmly opposed.”Reducing WBBL games has… been strongly represented to us recently; that’s not something they want to do,” Alistair Nicholson, the ACA chief executive, told SEN radio. “Domestic cricket is the strength of the game.”

There is a strict travel restriction in the country which has placed doubt on the players making their way to the UAE

Shashank Kishore01-Aug-2020The non-participation of most South African players in the CPL has brought into focus the possibility of them also missing parts, if not all, of the IPL season due to travel restrictions in the country because of the Covid-19 situation. With no clarity yet – the IPL governing council meeting is on Sunday- on player replacements, the franchises are searching for answers, with some reaching out to their recruits and others waiting to broach the topic.As such, of the South African players in the IPL, Imran Tahir might be available for Chennai Super Kings. He had stayed on in Pakistan after the PSL, and is expected to join the squad soon after his CPL commitments with Guyana Amazon Warriors. The tournament is slated to finish on September 10.Royal Challengers Bangalore, who have AB de Villiers, Chris Morris and Dale Steyn in their ranks, could be the worst hit, while Super Kings also have two key players in Faf du Plessis and Lungi Ngidi, apart from Tahir. Kagiso Rabada and Quinton de Kock are contracted with Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians respectively.Royal Challengers could potentially have a situation where Sri Lanka’s Isuru Udana could well be occupied till September 20, and thus miss their training camp, if he finds a team in the Lanka Premier League, which is being planned for an August 28 to September 20 run.But the fact that South Africa’s borders are closed might not be the biggest concern – a player agent ESPNcricinfo spoke to said the BCCI’s guidelines, and a formal statement of procedure (SOP) to chart the next course of action, remain more crucial.The CSK management too has touched base with du Plessis and Ngidi, and remain confident of their players participating. ESPNcricinfo understands that a decision on potential replacements would only be taken after the BCCI’s meeting with the franchises, which is likely to take place next week.South Africa continues to remain in lockdown, with all provincial and international borders closed. While repatriation flights continue to leave the country, there has been a blanket ban on commercial flight operations. Restrictions are likely to be lifted only after the pandemic peak passes, most likely towards the end of September.While no franchise has been willing to come on record, there are murmurs over the possibility of teams hiring a charter flight to ferry the South African players to the UAE.From South Africa’s point of view, the absence of any significant window between the end of CPL and the start of the IPL has already led to the home season being pushed back further.”West Indies tour of South Africa has been postponed indefinitely. We are struggling to find a time with the IPL being fitted in,” Graeme Smith, the CSA director of cricket, said on Friday. “It looks like our players are going to be needed from the beginning of September, government-permitting, and travel permitting.”Sri Lanka also [postponed]. I expect that once things get up and running, our team, on the men’s side, I would say from November onwards, if all goes well, it will be a really busy period for South African cricket, probably playing in times that we haven’t played before and trying to cram in a lot of the missed tours.”As such, CSA has already said that it will issue no-objection certificates to the contracted players. However, the onus then falls on the players to obtain travel permits and fulfil quarantine regulations if any.

BCCI were at risk of a $547 million drop in revenue if the entire season had been cancelled

Reuters01-Sep-2020The eight IPL franchises are counting the Covid-19 cost on their finances, but having gotten past the possibility of the tournament being scrapped this year, they are taking a glass-half-full view of the situation.The IPL’s original March start was scuppered by the first wave of the virus, and the BCCI had to pull out all the stops to rescue the tournament, which has an estimated $6.8 billion brand value. The tournament has been shifted to the UAE and will start on September 19 – nearly six months later than scheduled.After Vivo paused its title sponsorship for this year’s edition, fantasy gaming company Dream11 took it up for INR 222 crore ($29.7 million approx.), roughly half of what Vivo paid annually.”The discount provided to Dream11 would be a major (financial) hit for the BCCI, along with making arrangements for bio-secure bubble which will be an additional cost burden on the board,” Santosh N, an external advisor at financial consultancy firm Duff & Phelps, explained to Reuters.The league shares 50% of the title sponsorship money with the eight franchises, who will also miss out on gate receipts and in-stadia revenue this year, while existing sponsors demand discounts in the absence of fan initiatives.The switch has seen Delhi Capitals lose shirt sponsor Daikin, with the air-conditioning equipment maker saying the new dates did not work for them. “The reason being the business scenario and the timing, which earlier, being the summer, would call for advertising efforts to create awareness and recall for the AC category,” a Daikin spokesman told Reuters.Capitals Chairman Parth Jindal has said the BCCI should look at compensating the franchises. “If the BCCI doesn’t compensate, there will be a significant loss to each franchise, about a 30% drop in revenues,” Jindal told earlier this month.But with the BCCI at risk of a $547 million drop in revenue had the entire season been cancelled, treasurer Arun Dhumal preferred to look on the bright side. “When you encounter such challenging times and so many impediments, you are bound to lose on certain revenues,” Dhumal told . “Looking at the overall picture, everybody should be happy that at least we’ve been able to organise it.”At such short notice, we’ve been able to get a new title sponsor. It speaks volumes of IPL as a brand, and how it has grown over the years.”

For the second time in two games, powered by Pollard, Mumbai ransacked runs aplenty from their last five overs

Deivarayan Muthu01-Oct-20202:36

What ails Glenn Maxwell at the IPL?

After Rohit Sharma made his second half-century in his last three innings in IPL 2020, Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya went on a boundary-hitting spree to launch the Mumbai Indians to 191 for 4, which proved to be more than enough in the end. For the second game in a row, Pollard helped Mumbai ransack 89 off the last five overs, his unbeaten 47 off 20 balls exposing a Kings XI Punjab attack that lacked a death bowler. They had seemingly managed their bowlers so poorly that offspinner K Gowtham, picked ahead of legspinner M Ashwin, bowled the final over in the first innings, leaking four sixes to Pollard and Pandya.In pursuit of 192, the Kings XI lost Mayank Agarwal in the powerplay and captain KL Rahul laboured to 17 off 19 balls before legspinner Rahul Chahar knocked him over. Nicholas Pooran briefly matched his West Indies captain and mentor Pollard’s ball-striking with 44 off 27 balls, but it wasn’t enough to prick the ballooning asking rate. Chahar kept dangling legbreaks away from Glenn Maxwell’s reach, and ultimately had him holing out for a painfully slow 11 off 18 balls. Jasprit Bumrah and James Pattinson then closed out a 48-run victory, putting Mumbai on top of the points table.Cottrell’s comeback
After giving up as many as 30 runs to Rahul Tewatia in a frenzied finish on Sunday, Sheldon Cottrell started with a wicket-maiden on Thursday and conceded 20 in his next three. The left-arm seamer angled a length ball into Quinton de Kock and then got it to curve away to castle the batsman for a duck in the first over. Soon after, Suryakumar Yadav was run out for 10 off seven balls.Ishan Kishan, who had cracked 99 forcing a Super Over against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, struggled against Cottrell, Mohammed Shami and legspinner Ravi Bishnoi, who kept sliding the ball across the left-hander with his googlies. Cottrell finished his quota of four overs by the 13th over; Mumbai were 83 for 2.The storm after the calm
Looking to hit his way out of trouble, Kishan ventured a slog-sweep against Gowtham, but couldn’t clear the longer leg-side boundary, falling for 28 off 32 balls. Pollard, though, shook up things by planting his front leg and smoking Bishnoi over his head for six. Sharma, quiet until then, slammed 4, 4, 6, 6 against Jimmy Neesham. The New Zealand allrounder ditched his into-the-pitch legcutters for attempted yorkers, but kept erring with his lengths. The first four, a ramp that was precisely placed to the right of long leg, brought up his fifty off 40 balls. The pick of that boundary sequence was the final six that was clattered over extra-cover just after the man from that boundary had been whisked off to long-off.It needed a relay catch at the boundary from Maxwell and Neesham to remove Rohit for 70 off 45 balls. He was on 43 off 37 balls at one point, but accelerated before Pollard and Hardik took over.Hardik, playing as a specialist batsman as Mumbai have opted against rushing him back into bowling after his back surgery last year, also laid into Neesham, taking 17 off five balls from him. Kings XI, seemingly having miscalculated, asked Gowtham to bowl the last over and Pollard duly finished the innings with a hat-trick of mighty sixes.Kings XI fade away
Agarwal gave Kings XI a jump-start in the chase, attacking the short balls from Trent Boult and James Pattinson, moving to 25 off 15 balls. After Jasprit Bumrah darted in two more short balls, he seamed a full ball in and burst through the defences of Agarwal. In the next over, Karun Nair, who came in at No.3, dragged Krunal Pandya back onto the stumps. Rahul, who could neither find the boundary nor the gaps, was dismissed by Chahar in the ninth over as the required rate shot past 11.Pooran was particularly strong off the back foot, pulling Chahar and Bumrah for six and four. Twenty-one of his 44 runs came in front of square on the leg side. His bright innings, though, was cut short when Pattinson pushed a full ball away from his reach and had him edging behind.Chahar, meanwhile, took a leaf out of Yuzvendra Chahal’s playbook, lobbing slow legbreaks wide of off stump to frustrate Maxwell. Maxwell eventually played a desperate slog-sweep and picked out deep midwicket. Gowtham struck two fours and a six, but the boundaries he had given up earlier in the evening had a greater impact on the result.

Nathi Mthethwa has given CSA until October 27 to make a case to keep him out of their affairs

Firdose Moonda14-Oct-2020The ICC has been given notice that South Africa’s minister of sport, Nathi Mthethwa, intends to intervene in Cricket South Africa (CSA) after failing to see progress in the organisation’s attempts to stabilise its governance.Mthethwa can act according to the country’s National Sport and Recreation Act, which gives him the power to intervene “in any dispute, alleged mismanagement or other related matter that is likely to bring a sport into disrepute.” Besides, if the federation does not comply with the ministerial directive, he has the power to take away funding and to no longer recognise them as a national federation. The minister has given CSA until October 27 to make a case to keep him out of their affairs.Mthethwa’s action comes after CSA ignored the instruction by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), the umbrella-body under which all the country’s sports federations operate, for their board and executive to step aside while an investigation into CSA’s financial and governance affairs took place. CSA also did not allow SASCOC unrestricted access to their forensic report, which was used to fire former CEO Thabang Moroe, and wanted SASCOC board members to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) which they refused to do.CSA has made the full report available to the minister and the parliamentary portfolio committee, who questioned CSA over the report on Tuesday. The session yielded “negative outcomes”, according to a statement by Mthethwa, who has seen no alternative but to take matters into his own hands.”Having evaluated the discussions as well as the subsequent reporting on this matter, I have now reached a point where I see no value in any further engagement with CSA,” Mthethwa said, in a statement issued on Wednesday morning.ALSO READ: South Africa opens borders but international sport remains locked downHowever, Mthethwa’s statement stressed that he would prefer not to get involved and wants to provide CSA with the chance to sort their problems out themselves. “Minister Mthethwa strongly believes that there is great merit in creating an environment where sports problems are handled within the sports movement and accordingly wishes to offer them every possible opportunity to demonstrate their stated commitment to cooperate on a way forward for cricket,” the statement read.That is important, especially when dealing with the ICC, which forbids government interference in its members. Last month, SASCOC wrote to the ICC explaining that their action did not constitute government interference because they are an independent – albeit legislatively-created body – and were not acting under ministerial directive even though they had passed a resolution indicating that they were.The National Sports and Recreation Act requires that SASCOC is the first port of call in a dispute or alleged mismanagement in any sports federation and the minister may only step-in if SASCOC fails to resolve the issue. Two weeks back, SASCOC indicated they were not making progress and asked the minister to step-in.”When the SASCOC initiative yielded no positive results, the Minister personally held several meetings with the CSA Board and also met with the Members Council,” the statement read. The most recent meeting between the minister and CSA took place on Monday. CSA were hopeful they would obtain permission from the minister to host England for a “critically important” white-ball series in November-December but appear to only have angered Mthethwa while the tour remains uncertain.The United Kingdom is on South Africa’s list of high-risk countries and travellers from there need to apply for permission to enter South Africa, whose borders opened in limited capacity only on October 1.

New South Wales were able to declare in mid-afternoon after a dominant batting display

Andrew McGlashan20-Oct-2020Sean Abbott added his name to the list of allrounders to make a mark early in the Sheffield Shield as he scored an unbeaten half-century then claimed two wickets, but a positive innings from opener Sam Whiteman kept Western Australia in touch.Abbott and New South Wales captain Peter Nevill added an unbroken 118 for the sixth wicket to set up the declaration, building on the mammoth partnership of 244 between Moises Henriques and Daniel Solway.Following a solid start, Western Australia were wobbling a touch at 2 for 71 when Abbott struck in consecutive overs but Whiteman responded with a flurry of attractive shots and alongside Cameron Green their third-wicket stand was worth 81 at stumps.New South Wales resumed on 3 for 262 and after ensuring against an early losses Henriques looked keen to try and increase the tempo although for a little while it did not go entirely to planHenriques took his magnificent innings beyond 150 before his partnership with Solway eventually ended after 87 overs when the latter was bowled sweeping at Ashton Agar having faced 273 balls for his 86Henriques soon followed when he failed to clear mid-on against Matthew Kelly then in the next over Jason Sangha clubbed to the same position when trying to go down the ground off Agar.However, any hope Western Australia had of bringing the innings to a swift conclusion was stymied by Nevill and Abbott as the pair played with increasing freedom towards a mid-afternoon declaration.Whiteman and Cameron Bancroft started confidently in reply and had a half-century stand by the time they strode off for tea, but after the break Abbott produced a terrific spell. Firstly he had Bancroft caught behind with a delivery that just nipped away outside off then Shaun Marsh, who scored a century last week, flashed a drive which was well held at third slip by Kurtis Patterson. Abbott’s second spell finished at 5-1-12-2.But Whiteman held firm, and flourished, in another compact and confident innings which included four boundaries in an over off Harry Conway. Green was more circumspect but also very solid as Nathan Lyon settled into what could be a heavy workload on a surface still very much in favour of the batsmen.