The star-studded NSW attack will pose a tougher test for Victoria, who have named Glenn Maxwell for a return with the red ball

Victoria has turned her attention to the looming blockbuster Sheffield Shield game at the MCG next week after her opening game against Tasmania at Junction Oval ended in a draw.

Marcus Harris was named man of the match as he backed up his first-innings performance with 52 hits on the final day of play to take the hosts to 2-120 and 21 ahead of the Tigers before the teams agreed to a stalemate on Friday afternoon.

Only 20 wickets fell during the game and Victoria coach Chris Rogers admitted the game was “a bit of an event and that’s not good for cricket or for everyone involved… It’s frustrating.”

Your next competition over the Yarra River is sure to be more exciting.

NSW is expected to bring in Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith and Sean Abbott in a Shield match against the Vics at the MCG from October 20, while Pat Cummins could be joined by Josh Hazlewood for the following one-day contest (at the Junction) Oval on October 25th).

Sheffield Shield, second round: 20-23. October

Victoria v NSW, MCG, Melbourne

Queensland v South Australia, Allan Border Field, Brisbane

Western Australia v Tasmania, WACA Ground, Perth

Scott Boland is on track to return for the Vics after missing the opening game against Tasmania, but it is unclear whether Glenn Maxwell will join him after the all-rounder returned for his first red-ball game in Australia for more A state second XI game was nominated in 18 months.

Rogers hinted that captain Will Sutherland, who also plays in the Second XI game against Queensland at Junction Oval, will be right to take charge of the senior team against NSW. But Maxwell is not a certainty.

“I think he is an option for the Sri Lanka tour in January so they want him to play against a red ball,” Rogers said of Maxwell. “It’s an opportunity for us – any time you get a chance to bring in someone like him to talk about batting and fielding and strategy, it’s great for us too.”

“We’ll have to wait and see about the Shield game against NSW.”

Matt Short is also an uncertain starter as he is still recovering from an adductor injury sustained during Australia’s limited-overs tour of the United Kingdom. Abbott (hamstring injury) was also struck at the end of this series but is hoping to return for the game.

Incorporating Boland and Sutherland into the Victorian attack could pose a major challenge for young prospect Sam Konstas on a pitch that is likely to be more bowler-friendly than the one where he scored two centuries against South Australia in Sydney.

The same goes for Harris, who scored a hundred in the first innings on a road at Junction Oval against Tasmania. Runs against a Test-quality attack could be of great value if Cameron Green’s injury opens up a Test berth for a game against India this summer.

Beau Webster, who did no damage to his Test hopes in Tasmania’s first innings of 9-527, admitted he was struggling to ignore recent speculation about Green’s injury situation.

“It’s everywhere, in all media, whether he goes bowling or not, whether he can bat or not, whether he has surgery or anything like that. But there are a lot of other good all-rounders around the country,” Webster said Thursday.

Tasmania coach Jeff Vaughan was hoping Webster would win selection for Australia A for the upcoming games against India A, with Harris also likely to feature. A squad for this series is expected to be named early next week.

“I would love to play (for Australia A), I think I’m in good form and hopefully I can do my thing there if I get the opportunity,” Webster said. “But I’m trying to score as many runs as possible for Tassie now.”

“I’m a free-flowing player, my defense isn’t the best part of my game, I’m an attacking player… I feel like I’ve been batting well for 18 months now, I’ve got a routine down pat.” And whatever the conditions offer, I feel like I have a plan that can be successful.”

Maxwell last played for the Victoria’s Shield team in February last year and has only played two first-class games in the last five years.

The all-rounder almost played in Galle in 2022 before Travis Head passed a fitness test on the morning of the second Test, meaning Maxwell continued to wait to add to his seven Test matches – all in Asia.

The freak leg fracture he sustained at a birthday party later that year ended his hopes of playing against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour last year.

The after-effects of that injury are still being felt and he needs to prove to the players that he can spend long periods of time on the field in his first-class comeback.

His rare anti-spin skills, as demonstrated in his exceptional World Cup innings against Afghanistan last year, as well as his bowling and fielding make him an attractive proposition in the subcontinent.

Victoria v Queensland, Toyota Second XI – 14th-17th October

Victoria’s second eleven: Will Sutherland (c), Austin Anlezark, Liam Blackford, Dylan Brasher, Xavier Crone, Harry Dixon, Jai Lemire, Reilley Mark, Glenn Maxwell, Jon Merlo, David Moody, Doug Warren

Queensland Second XI: be named