Rob Quiney will be keen to hand the captaincy straight back to Matthew Wade following the Sheffield Shield game at the WACA Ground after Victoria had a horror first day against Western Australia.

Quiney is captaining Victoria with Wade suspended for pitch tampering during last week’s 129-run win over Tasmania at Bellerive, and the day got off to a bad start.

It didn’t improve.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Victoria were punished by the home side who finished the day at 3-315.

WA openers Marcus North (145 from 269 deliveries) and Cameron Bancroft (86 from 176) combined for a 208-run opening partnership got the Warriors off to the best possible start before captain Adam Voges (62 not out) and Shaun Marsh (2no) consolidated.

Elsewhere, Tasmania batsman Ed Cowan blew a golden opportunity to remind national selectors of his talents against South Australia.

The Tigers were 6-226 after a grinding day one at Adelaide Oval, with Cowan left unfulfilled when dismissed for 68.

The former Test opener had grafted his runs from 158 balls and appeared set for a big score to keep his fading Ashes hopes alive.

But the left-hander was openly disappointed when he was bowled by Redbacks captain Johan Botha.

He did fare better than another Ashes hopeful, Alex Doolan, who was discussed by Australian selectors before being overlooked for the first Test against England currently underway in Brisbane.

Doolan was out for a fourth-ball duck when he advanced down the pitch to legspinner Adam Zampa but missed the ball completely and was stumped.

And Ryan Carters continued his rich vein of form at the SCG to drag NSW back into their clash with Queensland on a rain-interrupted opening day.

With the entire third session washed out, after rain also delayed the start of play, only 44 overs were managed on Friday as the Blues finished 3-140.

The Bulls started the stronger, reducing the hosts to 2-25 in favourable conditions with Matthew Gale (1-5) and Michael Neser (1-44) particularly effective.

But the mood of the game changed when Gale suffered a knee injury that could cruel his Big Bash campaign.

Gale (1-5) will miss at least six weeks after tearing the medial meniscus in his right knee midway through his fourth over.

His absence was felt as Carters (56no) and recalled veteran Ben Rohrer went about salvaging NSW’s innings, adding 115 for the third wicket.