Jack Clayton did his Test aspirations no harm with another half-century in the Sheffield Shield
Jack Clayton continued to push his case for a Test berth as Marnus Labuschagne’s return to the Sheffield Shield ended in underwhelming fashion.
Tasmania had reduced Queensland to 5-195 when an afternoon lightning storm ended the day 90 minutes early, with nearby lightning forcing the players off the field and no rain actually falling on the Gabba.
Clayton has come into the conversation for the vacant Test No.3 position after beginning the season with four 50+ scores in as many matches and looked a player in good form when he strode to the crease early in the second session.
In-form Clayton registers another Shield half-century
The 27-year-old was typically strong off his pads and hit several pull shots for four when Tasmania’s Jackson Bird or Riley Meredith strayed too short.
Jack Clayton’s 2026-27 Sheffield Shield season to date
v WA: 82 & 4
v SA: 66 & 37no
v VIC: 104 & 10no
v TAS: 52
However, he was sucked into chasing a wide one from Bird having reached 52, with the Shield veteran already celebrating his successful plan before it was pouched by Beau Webster at a floating slip.
Only NSW’s Ollie Davies (402) has more runs than Clayton’s 355 in this season’s competition and the rising left-hander admitted the added media attention has “definitely” come as a surprise.
“I feel like I haven’t ever had much media attention at all,” Clayton told reporters at stumps on day one. “I’ve just gone about doing my business in Shield cricket, and the last few seasons I feel like I’ve performed pretty decently.
“It’s always nice to be considered in those positions, but at the same time, it doesn’t change my focus or what I’m trying to do, and that’s for score runs for Queensland.”
Labuschagne’s stay at the crease was short, also caught behind the wicket chasing a wide ball from Meredith.
The Test discard stamped his authority by cover-driving his first ball for four and looked sharp early on, but added only eight runs in 35 balls thereafter.
The returning Queensland skipper opted to bat first on a hot, muggy Brisbane morning and the Bulls’ decision to promote Hugo Burdon up to opener paid off. The tall batter, playing his 10th Shield match, hit a personal best of 70 but was out after failing to control a pull shot around the corner.
Test squad members Webster (1-33) and Matt Kuhnemann (1-42) both chipped in with a wicket but there was no luck for Gabe Bell (0-30), who despite beating the bat on several occasions ended day one wicketless.
“Tassie are very disciplined with the way that they bowl and they’ve got a lot of bowlers that put the ball in the right area for long periods of time,” Clayton said.
“I thought the discipline we showed with the bat there was really good. (But) we had some moments where we got ourselves out more than the bowler getting us out.”
Hugh Weibgen (30no), demoted to No.5 and picked ahead of Lachlan Hearne, and Michael Neser (3no) were the not out batters when the umpires called the players off the field.
2026-27 Sheffield Shield standings
Round 1
Team
Matches played
M
Wins
W
Losses
L
Ties
T
Drawn
D
No results
N/R
Deductions
Ded.
Batting Bonus
Bat
Bowling Bonus
Bowl
Total points
PTS
1
Tasmanian Tigers Men
TAS
3
2
0
0
1
0
0
2.31
2.9
18.21
2
Western Australia Men
WA
3
2
0
0
1
0
0
2.53
2.5
18.03
3
Queensland Bulls
QLD
3
1
1
0
1
0
-1
2.18
3
11.18
4
South Australia Men
SA
3
1
2
0
0
0
0
1.42
2.4
9.82
5
NSW Men
NSW
3
0
1
0
2
0
0
4.77
2.4
9.17
6
Victoria Men
VIC
3
0
2
0
1
0
0
1.58
2.4
4.98
Legend
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
D: Drawn
N/R: No results
Ded.: Deductions
Bat: Batting Bonus
Bowl: Bowling Bonus
PTS: Total points