It is a very different day at the North Sydney Oval. The weather is overcast and there is plenty of swing and seam. NSW were 5/60 at the 'quarter' and it would seem that Queensland are over the line as long as they don't collapse in kind.
Not that experience has done much for NSW yet, it is a newfangled lineup for the Bulls. They've added opener Corey Barsby and spinner Brad Ipson to an inexperienced lineup including Alister McDermott, Jason Floros, Andrew Robinson, Joe Burns and Michael Neser. It's hard to predict their fortunes, but thus far they are far in front.
NSW also unsurprisingly chose Pat Cummins for debut, while Peter Forrest and Dom Thornely make their returns. The batsmen will have much to do after the lunch break.
The conditions weren't evident in the first over when an apparently in-form Hughes played confidently, but Warner was ill prepared when Feldman's first ball viciously swung into the left hander's leg stump. Later, Feldman moved the ball away from the left hander to dismiss a driving Hughes. The skiddy Rimmington wasn't as effective as would be hoped in swinging conditions, but McDermott and Hopes provided more wickets.
NSW didn't bowl quite so well. There were many balls that moved, but were much too short or wide. Hopes is easily the pick of all the batsmen. With limited opportunities, he muscled two sixes over point and unleashed a thrashing drive straight past Sean Abbott, comfortably seeing Queensland take first points. Barsby looked decent until he was run out, while Robinson hung on before giving Henriques an ill thought nick. Reardon struck some boundaries to cap off a good session, but it also offers hope of scoring runs for NSW.
It should be a good test of the rearranged format. It may offer NSW a lifeline as conditions ease, especially if the clouds break. On the other hand, if the weather worsens, the worst case scenario is removed, as a result has already been ensured.
