A brilliant century from Usman Khawaja has helped New South Wales to a healthy 4-234 at tea on day one of the Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia. Having arrived at the crease in difficult batting conditions and with his side in trouble following the early loss of Phil Hughes and Simon Katich, the 23-year-old belted 16 boundaries on his way to a classy 102. Khawaja was given a life with his score on 64 when Mark Cosgrove grassed a tough chance at second slip off the bowling of Peter George (2-57), and the diminutive left-hander made the most of the let-off to bring up his third first-class century of the season.

Day one of Queensland and Western Australia's Sheffield Shield clash hangs in the balance after a closely fought middle session at the Gabba. Sent in to bat, WA is 6-252 at tea. Disappointingly for the Warriors, Liam Davis (32), Matt Johnston (42) and Luke Ronchi (28) fell in quick succession playing loose shots against an attacking Queensland outfit playing with nothing to lose. The Bulls, who have already qualified for the Shield final, are an outside chance of hosting the decider if they can claim outright victory against the Warriors, but will be desperate to take the wicket of Luke Pomersbach who has shown scintillating touch to reach 73 not out.

Stand-in skipper Tim Paine is fighting hard to keep Tasmania in the contest on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the MCG. At tea, the Tigers were 6-139 with Paine unbeaten on 51 and Xavier Doherty, two. Paine, who came to the wicket with his team in serious strife at 4-48, has barely played a false stroke in his 108-ball innings. Veteran quick Damien Wright has been the best of the bowlers with 3-35 from 17 overs. Openers Jonathan Wells and Ed Cowan started safely enough for the Tigers before Cowan, on 10, had a sudden rush of blood.

Senior Cricket Australia official Michael Brown admits Michael Clarke is no certainty to take part in the upcoming two Test tour of New Zealand starting beginning next Friday. Clarke, who returned home to deal with personal issues believed to be related to fiancée Lara Bingle's well publicised nude-photo scandal involving AFL bad boy Brendan Fevola, was named in a 14-man Test squad on Wednesday. While confident the 28-year-old will rejoin his team-mates across the Tasman on Monday, Brown revealed there is still a chance the vice-captain will miss the upcoming tour to sort out his private life.

New South Wales young gun Steve Smith has been picked for Australia's Test tour of New Zealand along with Blues opener Phil Hughes, Queensland quick Ryan Harris and the out-of-form Marcus North. Vice-captain Michael Clarke has also been named just two days after rushing home from the one-day leg of the New Zealand tour for personal reasons. Selectors on Wednesday chose a 14-man squad for the two-Test tour, which begins on Friday week at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, and have rushed 20-year-old all-rounder Smith in following two recent hundreds at Sheffield Shield level, including last week's 177 against Tasmania.