Queensland skipper Chris Simpson couldn’t be more proud shown by his Bulls team to claim the only two points from the Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield match at WACA.
Queensland looked out of the contest after WA made 9-406 (declared) until just before tea on the second day with the Bulls also having lost quick bowlers Grant Sullivan (hamstring) and Ben Laughlin (stomach muscle) to injury.
With bowling out the Warriors looking unlikely, it meant their batsmen had to stand tall.
And, the Bulls did just that, with Ryan Broad (103), Lee Carseldine (80), Simpson (70), Chris Hartley (68), the injured Laughlin (35) and Ben Cutting (34) all helping the visitors to 458 and first innings points before the game petered out to a draw.
Simpson couldn't have been happier with the performance, saying that type of fight is forming the backbone of the new-look Bulls team.
"Without a doubt it is satisfying. The Western Australian team is very strong and is obviously here in its backyard, so to be debilitated how we were on that first afternoon and still come on top of the ledger with the two points is definitely a positive," Simpson said.
"To have that courage to fight through and we've shown how close we are as a team by being so willing to work for one another. We've obviously taken a lot out of the one-day title victory last season and spirit is certainly not our shortfall. To have that as your foundation is very promising."
For years Queensland has relied on Martin Love and Jimmy Maher to hold their batting line-up together, but Simpson and coach Trevor Barsby have declared to the current group that it's their time to now stand up.
They did in the opening Sheffield Shield game of the season much to Simpson's delight. He played a big part in it himself with a 139-run stand with Hartley that came at a crucial time after the Bulls fell to 5-234 after Broad and Carseldine's 104-run partnership ended with three quick wickets.
"We've spoken a lot about how the time has come for our batsmen to stand up. For years we've rested on the likes of Lovey and Jimmy Maher, so now it's time for those who've had the privilege to play with those guys to fulfil their spot. A few of us started that in a positive way this week," he said.
"It was good and it was on the back of some really hard work from Ryan and Lee. The middle session on the third day was very tough going, but to come through that so myself and Chris Hartley could reap the rewards later in the afternoon against a tiring attack was great."
The pitch at the WACA was certainly not what either side was expecting, especially after a quick and bouncy wicket for Sunday's Ford Ranger Cup game, but Simpson was glad that WA misread their approach to virtually snuff out any chance of a result.
He certainly expects a livelier pitch up at the Gabba when the Bulls return to play South Australia, WA and Tasmania in three Ford Ranger Cup games between October 21-30.
However, Laughlin, Sullivan and Grant Swan are all likely to be unavailable. Ryan Harris could return, though, from his stint with the Deccan Chargers in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament.
"Both teams misread the wicket. The Western Australian boys set up their innings beautifully and Shaun Marsh set it up for what both teams thought would become a quick and bouncy wicket, but on that first afternoon it didn't change and I thought we were in for a big old grind," he said.
"Shaun didn't get to cash in on all the hard work he did because the wicket wasn't the way we thought it would be by being quick and true. Having said that, it was a hard fought match and a tight contest. They never let us down back there and it will be quick and green I'm sure."