Cassell, White lead Vics charge

MELBOURNE, Nov 8 AAP - A pair of teenagers led an outstanding effort from Victoria's depleted bowling attack here today in the Pura Cup cricket match against Queensland.

Rob Cassell snared 4-33 in his first-class debut and former Australian under-19 team-mate Cameron White took 2-30 as Victoria rolled the Bulls for 187 on day one at the MCG.

The Bushrangers were 1-40 at stumps, with Matthew Elliott 31 and Graeme Rummans on nine.

Queensland collapsed from 4-165 at tea, with Cassell bowling Lee Carseldine on the first ball after the break for his first wicket at this level.

Cassell and White, both aged 19, shared the wickets between them and Andrew Symonds top-scored with 92 as Queensland lost 6-22 after tea.

"We followed our plans really well today, we've got some team bowling plans and we didn't falter throughout the day," Cassell said.

"I wasn't really expecting to get a game at all...I consider myself pretty lucky.

"I was quite nervous with the first couple of balls I bowled - I just wanted to land them on the pitch."

Cassell followed the example of his Melbourne club team-mate Shane Harwood, who took a hat-trick on debut and finished with six wickets for the match last week as Victoria beat Tasmania.

Harwood (back), Ian Harvey (back) and Ian Hewett (knee) were all ruled out this morning, while captain Shane Warne returned to national duty.

Nick Jewell was made 12th man, meaning four changes to the side.

Apart from Cassell, Will Carr and Jon Moss came in and Andrew McDonald was a late inclusion.

Cassell and his team-mates only found out the composition of the team when they arrived at the ground this morning, with selectors giving the injured players every chance to prove their fitness.

"I didn't get too much sleep last night," Cassell admitted.

Victoria was expected to struggle against Queensland's strong batting lineup, but Carr had captain Jimmy Maher well-caught in close for 22 after the Bulls won the toss.

Moss removed opener Brendan Nash for 13 and Stuart Law two balls later for a duck and from there only Symonds took it up to the Victorian bowlers.

Symonds clubbed 16 fours in his innings, but even he had some trouble with White's leg-spin.

Carr also bowled Symonds on 35, but it was a no-ball.

Victoria's innings started badly when Jason Arnberger shouldered arms to Ashley Noffke and was bowled, leaving his side 1-0.

The Bushranger bats have earnt a bad reputation in the last couple of seasons for letting their bowlers down, making a poor opposition score look suddenly good by comparison.

But Elliott and Rummans made sure there was no further damage in the hour before stumps.