Tasmanian Tigers go 0-2 to Start Season Following Matthew Wade’s Suspension

The Tasmanian Tigers' season has gotten off to a terrible start after suffering their second consecutive defeat and having a prominent player be suspended.

After losing on Wednesday to New South Wales and having former captain Matthew Wade suspended, things have gone from bad to worse for the Tasmanian Tigers.

Wade's third Level 1 violation in the last 18 months resulted in a two-game suspension on Tuesday night.

Wade was suspended for Tuesday's match against New South Wales after he smashed his bat into the pitch during Monday's three-wicket loss to Victoria.

The Tigers' upcoming one-day match against South Australia on October 8 will also be without him.

However, on October 3-6, when the Redbacks visit Sheffield Shield opener, the 35-year-old will be available to participate.

The Tigers were dealt a significant setback as a result of Wade's ban, and they ended up losing by a large margin of six wickets to the Blues. Former Tigers spinner Jackson Bird made his debut appearance against his new state and collected three wickets in the match.

In the end, Bird finished with numbers of 2-27 off of 10 overs, and he also took the wicket of Riley Meredith with a late-innings run out to add to his totals.

After the Tigers' top order once again failed to deliver, it was up to Beau Webster to save the innings and bring the Tigers within 199 runs of winning the match against the New South Wales Blues.

The all-rounder followed up his 83-run stand on Monday with 65 runs off of 80 balls and cobbled together a 90-run partnership with the newcomer Paddy Dooley, who scored 39 runs off of 63 balls, toward the close of the innings.

The 198 runs scored by Tasmania were never going to be enough though, as the Blues were able to chase it down in just 35 overs, finishing at 4-202. The majority of the damage for the winning side was done by openers Jack Edwards (92 runs off 63 balls) and Daniel Hughes (58 runs off 71 balls).

Hughes had an early fright from Meredith when the quicks' towel dropped out of his back pocket after dismissing the opener, but the two managed to put up 137 runs together.

Caleb Jewell donned the gloves in place of Wade and the injured Jake Doran, and Dooley led the Tigers bowlers with a 2-60 performance in just his second varsity outing.

The Tigers are currently 0-2, and they have a four-day encounter against South Australia starting on Tuesday.