Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Western Australia’s top order is in disarray, losing a third player to injury or illness in their Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland.
After conceding a 132-run first-innings lead, WA mounted a stunning fightback on Saturday to bowl out Queensland for 68 at the WACA Ground in Perth.
But their prospects of chasing down Queensland’s 201-run victory target were dented when New Zealand-born opener Sam Fanning hobbled off with an apparent hamstring injury.
Fanning, who top-scored for WA with 64 off 149 deliveries in the first innings, grabbed at his hamstring while chasing a ball to the boundary.
The 25-year-old did not return to the field and was spotted in the lunch break on crutches.
Under Cricket Australia’s injury substitution trial, teams can only replace an injured or ill player in a regular-season Shield match until stumps on day two.
It means Fanning cannot be replaced, leaving WA potentially a batter down for their run chase.
He adds to WA’s casualty ward after illness ripped through their camp, leading to the substitution of debutant Tom Murray on day two and Jayden Goodwin’s late omission before the toss.
Paceman Jhye Richardson (5-19) will have caught the attention of Test selectors, spearheading WA’s fightback as Queensland collapsed to 5-13.
Left-armer Joel Paris (3-21) struck twice in the first over to remove both openers, Hugh Weibgen (1) and Angus Lovell (0).
After building pressure at the other end, Richardson picked up Hugo Burdon (4), Jack Clayton (4) and first-innings centurion Jimmy Peirson (0).
Lachlan Hearne (11) and Hayden Kerr (22) stabilised things, but fell in consecutive balls to Kieran Elliott (1-11) and Albert Esterhuysen (1-15) before lunch.
Paris and Richardson then made short work of Mitch Swepson (10), Cameron Gannon (0) and Jem Ryan (0) after the break.
Earlier, Test hopeful Xavier Bartlett (5-48) cleaned up the tail to skittle WA for 175 in their first innings.
