Sean Abbott stakes Ashes claim by routing Victoria in six-wicket Sheffield Shield haul

The match was both NSW and Victoria's first match of the season as Covid forced the initial date of the fixture to be pushed back, but Abbott needed no time at all to dust off the cobwebs.

The 29-year-old produced a blistering spell with at Drummoyne Oval and finished with stunning figures of 6-38, with Victoria mustering a first innings total of 199.

Three wickets from first-gamer Tanveer Sangha - bowling in tandem with Test spinner Nathan Lyon, who showed no signs of the concussion he sustained last week - helped NSW dominated the visitors.

Abbott’s haul included the opening scalp of fellow Test hopeful Marcus Harris for just nine, after Victoria chose to bat first on a green-top pitch.

With the recent retirement of fast bowler James Pattinson opening a big door for fast bowlers around Australia to enhance their Ashes claims, Abbott said that he had a few jitters before delivering his first ball of the Sheffield Shield season.

“I was in the phantom Test series that didn’t go ahead in South Africa, but the last one against India as well,” Abbott said.

“I’d laugh if I said I wasn’t thinking about it (Ashes) but we’ve only ever really got what’s in front of us, which is the first day of the Shield game today.

“I’ve still got to go out and take wickets. There’s plenty of wickets still to take before I’m even starting to think about getting a baggy green for my country.”

Abbott was all over Harris before removing him, after which he also snared Victorian skipper Peter Handscomb and James Seymour as the visitors went into lunch on the ropes at 3-60.

Abbott is no stranger to extended Australian Test squads but even with an Ashes series on the horizon, the seamer is maintaining his focus on what’s in front of him right now.

Sangha, 19, was making his Sheffield Shield debut for NSW showed all the signs that have elevated him in to the national conversation.

“He’s obviously got plenty of skill with the ball, as we’ve seen in the Big Bash last summer,” Abbott said.

“But the way we saw him own his space at the crease and the maturity that he showed for such a young guy was pretty big of him.

“He’s not been around the squad for that many years and he prioritised spending time with his family as opposed to getting stuck into pre-season.

“He’s really come in the last couple of weeks and got stuck in. He bowled really well today, I’m absolutely chuffed for him.”

NSW made a steady start to their first innings but opener Daniel Hughes failed to fire, as he was trapped LBW by Scott Boland for eight runs from 26 balls.

Hughes’ opening partner Matthew Gilkes also departed for 25 before the end of play on day one, as he wildly slashed at a Matt Short delivery and was caught by Handscomb.

The home side finished the day 2-43.

Originally published as Sean Abbott stakes Ashes claim by routing Victoria in six-wicket Sheffield Shield haul