Pitch concerns sees day one suspended between SA and Queensland

Travis Head and Usman Khawaja's audition for Australia's last Test batting spot has been delayed, with day one of the Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and Queensland abandoned after 50 overs due to concerns over the Karen Rolton Oval pitch.

The players left the field at 4.30pm after Queensland batter Marnus Labuschagne raised concerns with the umpires over balls rearing from a length. A damp spot had developed on a difficult length at the southern end while the pitch was under the covers in the morning after rain had washed out the opening session of play.

Labuschagne copped a blow on the gloves and survived a ball ballooning off the shoulder of the bat. He even called for an arm guard to wear on his left forearm that was significantly larger than the normal sweatband he wears, which does have some protective padding.

Labuschagne and Head spoke with the umpires while Khawaja spoke to match referee Steve Davis on the sidelines. The players then left the field before Davis, the two umpires, and head curator Trent Kelly convened in the middle to inspect the surface. After that meeting, it was decided that play would be suspended for the day with Kelly and his ground staff to do seven minutes of work to flatten the damp spot with a heavy tool and the roller before letting the sun dry it out in the afternoon. Play will resume at 10am on day two.

"Ground staff began immediate remedial work and officials will inspect the wicket tomorrow morning ahead of a scheduled re-commencement," a statement said.

Labuschagne had come to the crease after Queensland had lost Joe Burns to a ball that exploded from that damp spot and ballooned off the shoulder of the bat to second slip. David Grant's delivery caused a chunk of the pitch to come up, and Burns walked off in disbelief after facing 105 deliveries for 17.

Bryce Street was 45 not out from 147 balls when play was called off. The left-hander, who is preparing for his first Australia A assignment, was not as affected by the damp spot, given it was outside his leg stump. Scoring was painstakingly slow for Queensland as South Australia's attack made life difficult on the unusual surface.