NSW coach Trevor Bayliss says an even performance from his bowlers was the secret to holding Victoria to a first-innings total of 236 on Wednesday, although he has another secret which he wants to keep quiet.

Bayliss says former Test quick Doug Bollinger, who took 6-62 and 1-61 in last week’s Sheffield Shield opener against Tasmania and followed up with a solid effort of 2-61 off 20 overs against Victoria at the MCG, remains an international-quality bowler at 32.

The Blues have plenty of pace-bowling talent at their disposal with 21-year-old Sean Abbott (3-60 off 15 including two wickets in two deliveries) and 20-year-old Gurinder Sandhu (1-21 off 19 overs) also enjoying success on Wednesday.

“I think he is (Test quality) but you can keep that bit quiet so that he gets to play a bit more for us,” Bayliss said when asked about Bollinger.

“There will be opportunities later on in the summer. It’s up to the Australian selectors to pick the bowlers in form at the time.

“Certainly at the moment Dougie is bowling well.”

Victoria’s Test opener Chris Rogers, who top-scored with 88, praised the talent of Abbott who produced two savage yorkers to bowl Cameron White (48) and Aaron Finch (0) in consecutive deliveries as the home side slumped from 2-92 to 4-92.

“(They were) pretty good ones, actually,” Rogers said.

“He’s an immense talent. He’s an athlete, bowls quickly and can whack ’em.

“So when he comes on and bowls those kind of deliveries, especially to a brand new batsman, that’s as good as it gets.”

Bayliss said Sandhu was capable of hitting the 140 km/h mark.

“He’s still only 20. He’s got a fair bit of improvement in him as well,” he said.

Test bowler Nathan Lyon and fellow spinner Steve O’Keefe claimed two wickets each.