PERTH, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Chadd Sayers of South Australia bowls during day one of the Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and South Australia at WACA on November 13, 2017 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The first day of South Australia's Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland at Adelaide's Karen Rolton Oval was controversially abandoned due to a dangerous pitch.

It appeared a damp patch on the pitch was causing balls to unexpectedly rear at batsmen, with the umpires finding the pitch to be unsuitable for play shortly after tea.

Following a delayed start, only 50 overs were bowled with the Queenslanders crawling along to 1 for 87 before the umpires brought a halt to proceedings.

Marnus Labuschagne and Bryce Street spent much of the day in the firing line, although some believed it was just a pitch which wasn't suited to batsmen, as tends to be the case at many major cricketing venues around the world.

Labuschagne, who is using the match as one of his final preparation spots for the Ashes, which begin on December 8, was caught on the wrong foot numerous times, seemingly taken by surprise by the wicket.

However, one-time Australian quick and former South Australian pace bowler Chadd Sayers - who took 320 first class wickets - asked if bowlers could simply walk off when the pitch is too flat.

The overall reaction to the day's play being abandoned seemed to be one of general disappointment, with most pointing to the fact that Queensland had only lost a single wicket, and that Bryce Street had scored 45 runs, however, match referee Steve Davis said the pitch was behaving unusually.

“There’s a potential of it being dangerous,” Davis said.

“It was obvious that the umpires had some concern and the players had some concern because there was a couple of people that were hit on the gloves and in the stomach area.

“It (the pitch) was just behaving a bit unusually. It’s an area where the ball is sticking a bit, there is obviously some dampness underneath.

“It’s only about a metre square but obviously once you see a ball doing that, if you’re any sort of bowler you are going to aim for that spot.”

It's not the first time play has been abandoned in a Sheffield Shield match, with a clash between Victoria and Western Australia abandoned in 2019.

That match was not able to be resumed, with players injured on the opening day as balls reared and popped off various lengths on an unsuitable pitch.

Play will resume at 10am local time - 10:30am (AEDT) on Day 2, where the hope will be that the pitch has continued to dry out and become suitable for play to continue.