Blues recover from shaky start on rain-shortened day

At the Sydney Cricket Ground in a match with no bearing on finals placings, New South Wales recovered from a mediocre start to be 5/205 at stumps against Western Australia. Play began at 2.30pm after surface water from two days of steady rain was cleared from the outfield.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was clearly the standout in a NSW lineup where three batsmen, including captain Michael Bevan (21) and Shane Lee (25 from 22 deliveries) failed to make it past the twenties. Brad Williams (2/45) was the most successful of the WA bowlers.

Six months ago Corey Richards was playing for Australia A and was being touted as the next number three batsman in the Test team. Today he was named twelfth man for New South Wales, this year's Pura Milk Cup woodenspooners.