Two members of the Tasmanian cricket team remain in hospital following a debilitating bout of food poisoning which ruled three players out of the crucial Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia at Bellerive.
Mark Cosgrove, who was already out of the match with a fractured hand, and Jeremy Smith remain hospitalised, while allrounders Smith and Matt Johnston and batsman Alex Doolan were pulled from the squad on match morning.
Several other players have spent time in hospital on intravenous drips, with one case of salmonella poisoning having been confirmed.
The health crisis didn’t stop the home side skittling WA for 142 after Ricky Ponting had sent the ladder leaders in on a green deck, although spinner Jason Krejza, who had also been ill, bowled just 1.5 overs.
At stumps after bad light stopped play on day one, the Tigers were 1-73 with Ed Cowan unbeaten on 47 and Nick Kruger five.
The Tigers’ recent trip to Adelaide for matches against South Australia was being blamed for the illness, which health officials in two states are investigating.
SACA chief executive Keith Bradshaw said food preparation areas at the Adelaide Oval had been given the all-clear.
“Traces of salmonella and a virus called norovirus are showing in tests from Tasmania but SA Health is continuing its investigation and the source and exact cause of the contamination is still unknown,” Bradshaw said.
Tasmanian paceman Jackson Bird took 5-32, his fourth five-wicket haul of the summer, but his thoughts were with sick housemate Johnston.
“My housemate’s pretty crook, he’s been in hospital yesterday but I’ve been lucky enough to get through,” Bird said.
“Most of the boys (now) in the team have been all right for the last couple of days.
“I think Jason Krejza’s probably the only one that’s been sick so it’s not too bad.”
WA captain Adam Voges, who top-scored for his side with 49 before a dubious decision, said the only green his side had experienced was the wicket they were made to bat on first.
“We knew Tassie needed a result so we weren’t completely surprised by the colour of the wicket,” he said.
“It was probably a bad toss to lose.
“If the wicket stays like it is and we can still get some overcast conditions, and if we can come out tomorrow morning when there’s a bit of moisture around there, you never know, we could be around par.”