Bird, Siddle fire for Tasmania in Shield

Jackson Bird and Peter Siddle have helped put Tasmania in a strong position at stumps on day one of the Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria.

The two quicks fired as the Tigers skittled their hosts for 121 after winning the toss and bowling first on a green deck at the MCG.

Bird was the chief destroyer with 4-13 from 15 overs, including seven maidens, while Siddle (3-34) and Nathan Ellis (2-22) also did some damage on Thursday.

Captain Jordan Silk (24 not out) and Jake Doran (12no) then guided Tasmania to 4-102 in reply, trailing by just 19 runs heading into day two.

Matthew Wade (33) and Ben McDermott (23) made steady starts for the Tigers but were out bowled.

"Victoria maybe went into their shells a little bit after the first couple of overs and it sort of is one of those wickets where you need to be positive and look to score on," Bird said.

"There's a bit of seam and a bit of bounce, so if you try to just hang around there will probably be a ball with your name on.

"The way we played with the bat, we tried to take the positive option, which was good.

"It wasn't unplayable this morning but I suppose me and Sidds are quite experienced in conditions like that ... so it was good that we could both get some benefit out of that."

Shield debutants Sam Elliott and Campbell Kellaway both showed glimpses of their potential for Victoria.

Fast bowler Elliott, the son of former Test batter Matthew Elliott, removed Tasmania's openers Caleb Jewell (five) and Tim Ward (four) in claiming figures of 2-20 from 10 overs.

The 22-year-old's first wicket came with his eighth ball as it reared up on Jewell, who popped a catch to Will Sutherland at gully.

"I was a bit nervous and I can't even remember running in for the first ball or anything like that, so it was pretty exciting," Elliott said.

"To get my first wicket was unbelievable and it helped that it was caught by Sutho, who's one of my good mates.

"He also caught the first wicket that I got in one-day cricket and we've known each other since we were 10 years old ... so it's pretty special."

Kellaway made 23 and soaked up 82 balls as the Vics staggered to a grim first innings total.

It continued their poor run, following tallies of 63 and 132 in an innings defeat to Queensland earlier this month.

Opener Travis Dean was out for his third consecutive duck after a pair against the Bulls.

Nic Maddinson (one) and Ashley Chandrasinghe (two) were also out cheaply as Tasmania's new-ball attack had the hosts in all sorts of trouble, reducing them to 3-10.

Allrounder Fergus O'Neill (31), Matt Short (25) and Kellaway helped lift Victoria's tally into triple figures.