Former Test batsman’s frantic SOS response

Alex Doolan was sitting in a plane travelling over Bass Strait when the Sheffield Shield clash between Tasmania and Victoria started at the MCG on Friday morning.

Just after the lunch break, after a quick net sessions, four-Test batsman Doolan was in the middle.

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Tasmanian captain Tim Paine was forced to pull out on match morning after waking up ill in his Melbourne hotel room.

Strict rules dictated he had to isolate, get a COVID-19 test and return a negative result before he could rejoin his teammates.

That was never going to happen in time to play.

Tasmania only took 12 players to Melbourne, and bowler Gabe Bell was the extra, so Doolan was given an early morning SOS from coach Jeff Vaughan and jumped on the first plane available.

He was called in to bat after James Pattinson and Scott Boland made solid early inroads for the home team, back at the MCG for the first time since 2019.

The 35-year-old Doolan was dismissed in the afternoon session for 12, bowled by Victorian young gun Mitchell Perry.

Alex Doolan of Tasmania.Source:AAP

Doolan played four Test matches for Australia in 2014, scoring 191 runs against South Africa and Pakistan.

Pattinson, who was part of the Test squad all summer without playing a match, declared his intention to lead Victoria to a Sheffield Shield title as his number one priority.

He even skipped a potential payday in the Indian Premier League and didn’t go in the auction having played 10 games with the Mumbai Indians last season, choosing to stay home and play with Victoria.

How about this slips catch from Harry! #vicsdoitbetterpic.twitter.com/UHVzWOYGis

“The hard part from last time I was there … family can’t travel,” Pattinson said.

“There was that South African tour so that would have been three or four months away with more quarantine when we got back.

“I wanted to be able to spend time with my family. If something happened to them, you can’t just get on a flight and come back home.

“I love playing for Victoria. The goal is to win the Sheffield Shield final, and I’ll be putting all my efforts in to that.”

Jackson Bird took over as Tasmanian captain, while Jake Doran filled Paine’s spot as keeper.

.@VicStateCricket has won the toss & we'll bat first at the @MCG ?

Painey has woken up ill this morning & due to COVID protocols won't be able to take part in the match.

Bird will captain the side, Doran will be behind the stumps & Dools is back in the line up ?#WeAreTigerspic.twitter.com/5ebsRnACZO

The match was the first Shield game at the MCG for 454 days, after the end of last season was called off and players were sent in to an Adelaide hub to start this season.

The other storyline within the match could play out on day two, with former Test bowler Peter Siddle playing against his beloved Victoria for the first time.

Siddle crossed to Tasmania after they offered the security of a long-term contract, which Victoria wouldn’t.

“There was a bit of banter on that WhatsApp group about whether he was a traitor or nor. But it’s only banter,” Rogers said.

“It’s what happens in the modern world. They’ve got to do what they need to do. At the time Victoria, we felt like we were going in a different direction, everyone moves on. It’s only cricket.”

— NCA NewsWire

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