Daniel Marsh
©Getty Images / Cricket Australia
CRICKET VICTORIA

Tasmanian skipper Dan Marsh has conceded complacency might have played a part in the champion's indifferent start to its Pura Cup defence against undermanned Queensland.

The Bulls' lengthy absentee list was well-documented before the season-opener at the Gabba and Marsh believes his side might have fallen into the trap of expecting the hosts to be there for the taking.

"You'd like to think not but the performance probably says there was," admitted Marsh after striking an unbeaten 92 in the second innings to help the Tigers salvage a draw.

"Going into this game with Queensland having a lot of players out we thought we were a good chance to get six points here. To be out of the game two-and-a-half days into it we were really disappointed with that."

"Obviously pleased with the way we fought back in the last day-and-a-half. [But] for us to be 5-20 [on day one] is just not good enough. We've got to be a bit tougher than that."

Bulls captain Jimmy Maher was full of praise for a pace attack including Grant Sullivan, Chris Swan and debutant Ben Cutting who before this match had just six first class appearances between them.

Maher thought the trio of newcomers bowled better than the four visiting quicks including Adam Griffith and Brett Geeves, saying it augers well for the future.

The remaining question is whether Queensland's selection panel will stick with them in light of the availability of international trio Mitchell Johnson, James Hopes and Andrew Symonds for the second round clash with NSW in 11 days time.

Andy Bichel (shoulder), Michael Kasprowicz (calf) and Shane Watson (hamstring) are no certainties to return from injury at this stage.

"I feel a lot more comfortable now than I probably did before this game," Maher said. "Cutting, Sullivan and Swan all did good jobs and obviously [Ashley] Noffke was, as you said, superman."

"It's nice to know you've got that bit of backup and we found out answers about some of these guys."

"[Chris] Simpson too was very promising with the ball. I thought he bowled really well."

"You could have sworn Cutting and Sullivan had played a lot more than the few games they have between them," he added.

The wicket was unusual for a Gabba pitch in that it lacked bounce and pace and became increasingly difficult to dislodge set batsmen as the game wore on.

Only 11 wickets fell in the final three days of play as the previously green-tinged track dried and flattened.

"The last few days it was as flat as I've ever seen a pitch up here," Tigers opener Michael di Venuto commented after notching his maiden first class ton in Brisbane. "I know it's a wicket they use for their one-day games quite regularly but it was quite a flat dead wicket."

Meanwhile, Queensland officials confirmed man-of-the-match Ashley Noffke had joined exalted company after scoring his second first class century and taking 5-33 in the first innings.

Noffke became only the fifth Queenslander to achieve such a double and the first since Phil Carlson crashed an unbeaten 102 and claimed 5/46 and 5/27 against NSW at the Gabba in the 1978/79 season