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West Australian off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli has led the CA XI to a strong position at the conclusion of day one against Bangladesh in Darwin.
The 28-year-old tweaker took 6-83 off 24 overs to lead the attack for Australia A, with no other bowler taking more than one wicket as the visitor was bowled out for 263.
Rocchiccioli’s rollicking stint comes amid debate about who will succeed incumbent Australian test spinner Nathan Lyon, who, at 39, is presumably getting to the end of his top flight tenure.
While the West Australian’s performance was certainly eye-catching, dismissing three of Bangladesh’s top-five, he’s more concerned with winning as part of this team rather than thinking too far ahead.
“I’m not really interested in saying too much about test cricket,” he said.
“It’s a dream and I want to play test cricket and play for Australia, but right now my journey and my stepping stone is to roll back up tomorrow, clap for hopefully a couple of hundreds, and then do it again on day three.
“So, at the moment, my stepping stones in my career are just playing what’s in front of me, and then you keep performing and you earn the right to have your name in the calculations.”
Rocchiccioli said the wicket at DXC Arena didn’t behave the way he thought it would, having played NT Strike League matches in the Top End previously.
“It was actually a different wicket to what I was expecting,” he said.
“I’ve obviously played a lot of games up here and a lot of the time it’s not as tacky, or as spinny early as it was today.
“So the fact that it was like that today was actually quite surprising, so I was quite happy with that when we got sent in to bowl, and then we were able to from there.
“(It’s) awesome to be back playing cricket and it’s not every day you get to come out and play, especially in August.
“The chance to be able to test your skill set, and particularly not being an intra-club game, like you’re actually playing a test side, is quite awesome.
“So, pretty stoked with how the day went.”
All of Hanno Jacobs, Campbell Thompson, Xavier Crone and Jerrssis Wadia were in the wickets while Territorian youngster Tom Menzies was the only one to miss out, finishing with figures of 0-45 off 10 overs.
With the match seemingly in Australia’s control for much of the day’s play, a late fightback from Bangladesh, spearheaded by a whirlwind unbeaten century from Mehidy Hasan Miraz got the visitor past the 250 mark from a tick under 76 overs.
Miraz’ 109* was vital as Bangladesh were 5-105 when he came to the crease with only Shadman Islam (31) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (37) making any kind of impact before him.
With 15 overs to spare before stumps on day one, Australia A got off to a rocky start in its first stint with the bat.
The reserve squad opted for an untested opening combination of 20-year-old Sam Konstas and 23-year-old Campbell Kellaway.