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Law defends Gabba wicket after record-breaking win Michael Crutcher - 14 December 2001
Ruthless Queensland finished off a stunned Tasmania in record-breaking time at the Gabba today before victorious captain Stuart Law rubbished any thoughts of hometown advantage. The Gabba wicket came under fire after Queensland cruised to a 10-wicket win in just 569 minutes - the shortest completed match in Australian domestic four-day history. It was finished 27 minutes before tea on the second day when the Bulls reached 0-51 against a Tasmanian team which had been skittled for 100 and 82 in the Pura Cup match. Former Test batsman Dean Jones - who watched from the commentary box - unloaded scathing criticism on the Gabba ground staff. But his was a lone voice as both teams insisted the greenish wicket was not responsible for the record. "Deano never scored a run here (for Victoria)," Law said. "People are going to be pointing the finger at the pitch but I don't think it contributed to any dismissal. "It's a result wicket - you don't want a flat track where every team gets 400. "(Test opener) Matthew Hayden has batted here all his career and he averages 60 at the ground. "Maybe Queensland batsmen are better than people give them credit for." The points table reflects that, with the defending champions charging to a 10-point break at the halfway stage of the season. Tasmanian skipper Jamie Cox - whose match returns of 20 and 21 stood out like skyscrapers for the Tigers - said the wicket made batting tough. The Tigers didn't help their cause with some poor shots today, leaving them in tatters at 5-28. "It was bloody hard work and it got quicker today which made it even tougher," Cox said. "But I looked at the wicket yesterday morning and I wanted to lose the toss. "I wasn't at all unhappy to bat first on it. "There is no excuse for us to lose 19 wickets with a top score of 28. That's not acceptable." The Tigers struggled with an illness to batsman Michael Di Venuto, who retired hurt for four. But the game was gone by then, with the Tasmanians losing three wickets in the first three overs of the second day. Michael Kasprowicz took all three on the way to 4-22, while Joe Dawes collected 3-28. The record-keepers began watching the clock when it became apparent the teams wouldn't need the tea break. The record for the shortest domestic match was set in 1975-76, when Dennis Lillee and Mick Malone helped Western Australia thump Victoria in 10 hours at the MCG. Curator Kevin Mitchell Jnr defended his wicket, putting the record down to "one of those games". "We've been struggling since this ground was rebuilt (two years ago) to get pace and bounce - I think we've got it," Mitchell said. "The conditions helped the ball swing and seam but I've seen livelier wickets here." Queensland has won its three home matches this summer and, with two first-innings wins away from home, leads the points table with 22. Law admitted the Bulls could "relax for a few weeks" over the Christmas break but said they must regain focus for the return clash with Tasmania in Hobart on January 17. © 2001 AAP
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