Khawaja, Doggett put Queensland in command

Usman Khawaja and Brendan Doggett led a powerful Queensland counter-attack against Victoria on day two of the Sheffield Shield match at the Gabba, as Glenn Maxwell failed to press for retention of his No. 6 Test batting spot ahead of the Ashes.

It was Doggett, on first-class debut, who found a way through Maxwell amid Victoria's slide to 148 all out and a first-innings deficit to Queensland that had seemed unlikely when the hosts were rounded up for 166 on the opening day/night of the pink-ball fixture. Only Aaron Finch was able to prosper for any protracted period, and Queensland found themselves batting again early on the second day with the early season pitch beginning to show signs of settling down.

Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns, Test openers present and past, were importantly able to take the shine off the new ball, even if neither batsman was able to go on to a substantial score. Instead, they allowed Khawaja to enter the fray in the 22nd over of the innings, from which point he played with the sort of certainty the national selectors are eager to see against England.

Useful support came from Marnus Labuschagne and Sam Truloff, but it was Khawaja who led the way, catapulting the Queensland to a lead of 272 with two days remaining, and the captain only a run shy of the first century of the Shield competition.