Stars set to align for blockbuster shield season-opener

by Admin
October 4, 2024

Star allrounder Mitch Marsh is expected to play in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield season-opener next week against a stacked Queensland side.

The clash, beginning on Tuesday at the WACA Ground looms as a golden early-season audition for some of WA’s Test aspirants.

Marsh and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis are expected to play, alongside Cam Bancroft as he resumes his bid for a long-awaited Test recall. Aaron Hardie is also in the mix to play.

Queensland has named Australia’s incumbent No.3 Marnus Labuschagne and opener Usman Khawaja, as well as hopefuls Matthew Renshaw and Michael Neser.

The star-studded clash is WA’s launch party in their bid for an historic fourth-straight title.

No team has won the shield four times on the bounce since the competition moved to a six-team competition in 1977.

Cam Green is almost certain not to feature for WA after flying home from Australia’s tour of the United Kingdom. The allrounder underwent scans on his back this week amid fears the injury could keep him out of at least part of the Test summer.

Green’s injury would potentially open the door for Steve Smith to return to the middle-order.

That would leave Australia with a gap alongside Khawaja at the top to start the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series with India. Travis Head has been floated as an option, but selectors could also call on a genuine opener out of the domestic ranks.

Bancroft and fellow contender Renshaw will both play in Perth next week, while Australian cricket’s forgotten man, Marcus Harris, will play for Victoria against Tasmania.

The gun WA opener was the shield’s second-leading run-scorer last season, but missed the final after a nasty bike accident.

There is a good chance Marsh, who missed the final game of Australia’s one-day international series against England last month with back soreness, will play as a specialist batter.

Australian selectors would also likely consider a replacement allrounder if Green is not available for the The West Test at Optus Stadium from November 22, given concerns over Marsh’s bowling loads and the management of star quicks Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and captain Pat Cummins across five competitive matches.

That could bring Hardie, who has now played for Australia in two formats, into the frame.

Inglis is also poised to play as he prepares to mount a claim to the national team’s red-ball wicket-keeping duties and Cooper Connolly could also be considered after making his four-day debut in the final earlier this year.

Josh Inglis of Australia bats during a nets session at Utilita Bowl. Credit: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Pace twins Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris are under strict Cricket Australia management and are unlikely to feature.

It is understood WA are hopeful Richardson could play some part in a second XI game against South Australia from Monday that could feature a host of first-class regulars amid a selection squeeze.

Joel Paris has been ruled out with a calf injury and fellow left-armer Liam Haskett is battling stress fractures in his back.

New recruit Brody Couch has not been named for his new club side Scarborough on Saturday in a hint he could be in the mix to play his second first-class match and first since moving from Victoria.

Australia’s white-ball players will be in the mix for the first two domestic games of the summer, but WA’s third match — against Tasmania in Hobart — is fixtured to finish on the same day a Twenty20 series against Pakistan begins.

Xavier Bartlett will miss the match for Queensland with the side strain he picked up on Australia’s tour of the United Kingdom.