While Nathan Lyon has been rested, Josh Hazlewood will make his season debut for New South Wales as he prepares for the India Test series.
His first appearance since the England trip concluded in late September will be in the Sheffield Shield match against Queensland, which is also probably going to be his only competitive match prior to the opening Test match against India.
Australia’s ODI and A call-ups have severely impacted some states in the third round of the Shield. Due to the concurrent series, NSW is without Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Sean Abbott, Sam Konstas, and Josh Phillippe from their previous XI, along with Lyon.
Ollie Davies can play against Queensland even though the schedule has him playing in the second four-day match at the MCG next week. Additionally, all-rounder Jack Edwards is well following a hamstring injury, which is good news for NSW. Legspinner Tanveer Sangha will be eligible to rejoin the XI due to Lyon’s absence.
Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Swepson will serve as Queensland’s ODI captains. Additionally, they have Mark Steketee (ankle), Gurinder Sandhu (calf), Callum Vidler (groin), and Michael Neser (Australia A). The wicketkeeper for next week’s second Australia A match will be Jimmy Peirson.
The selectors selected Mahli Beardman in a 13-man team to face Tasmania in Hobart, giving him the opportunity to make his first-class debut for Western Australia. Beardman played just one List A match last summer, so the selectors made him a surprise choice for Australia’s recent limited-overs tour to the UK. The Under-19 World Cup champion has only participated in one Second XI game for Western Australia this summer, scoring 1 for 30 and 1 for 25 in just 13.3 overs over the course of two innings.
Additionally, he has not taken a wicket in his three WA Premier cricket games for Melville, his club. The selectors included uncontracted international spinner Ashton Agar in the team, with Corey Rocchiccioli resting before his Australia A debut. Since his final Test debut in January 2023, Agar has not participated in a first-class match. Aaron Hardie (Australia ODI), Josh Inglis (Australia ODI), Cameron Bancroft (Australia A), Cooper Connolly (Australia A), and Mitch Marsh (paternity leave) are all out.
Lance Morris, who is currently recovering from a quad injury, participated in a club T20 match for Scarborough last Sunday.
Beau Webster left Tasmania for Australia. Following their rest from the most recent Shield match against Western Australia, Gabe Bell and Lawrence Neil-Smith are back on duty.
Key players are also absent for South Australia, as fast bowlers Jordan Buckingham, Brendon Doggett, and Nathan McAndrew are in the squad but Nathan McSweeney is captaining Australia A. Against Victoria, Alex Carey, who has been playing really well, will captain.
Read More: Sri Lanka set to host men’s T10 competition in December
