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Cowan, Nair in for Blues' Shield clash

Injured O'Keefe ruled out following finger surgery as opener, teen come into squad

New South Wales will be without Steve O’Keefe for their crucial Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia after the left-arm spinner underwent surgery for a fractured finger.

O’Keefe sustained the injury to his right index finger while batting in the Blues’ draw with the Alcohol.Think Again Western Warriors at the WACA Ground last week, struck on the right hand by young quick Joel Paris.

However the Blues will regain opener Ed Cowan, who is returning after missing their previous clash due to concussion.

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The Blues have made three changes to their squad to play the West End Redbacks in Coffs Harbour, with Cowan, 17-year-old off-spinner Arjurn Nair and fellow tweaker Will Somerville coming in for O’Keefe, fast bowler Nigel Cowell and Nick Larkin.

Nair is in line for his Sheffield Shield debut, having gone from Under-19 state selection to the brink of first-class cricket inside three months.

His figures of 9-70 on debut for the NSW Second XI, including 6-43 in the first innings against the ACT, sent a loud message to selectors that he was ready and at 17 years and 314 days, he is poised to be one of the youngest Australian first-class debutants since the turn of the millennium.

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It was at the recent Under 19 National Championships that Nair's credentials skyrocketed, as he claimed 6-24 in a 10-over spell that turned the final and handed New South Wales a third-straight Kookaburra Cup.

The immensely talented allrounder was also rewarded with a Community Rookie spot on the Sydney Thunder list in the KFC Big Bash League, sharing a dressing room with the likes of Jacques Kallis and Michael Hussey.

NSW currently sit fourth on the Shield table and desperately need a win to keep their hopes of advancing to the final alive.

They take on a Redbacks squad who have also made a host of changes, with Tom Cooper and Tim Ludeman axed and Nick Benton (illness) and Adam Zampa (international duty) also left out.

Elliot Opie, Tom Andrews, Alex Carey and Jake Weatherald also given a chance to impress for South Australia.

New South Wales squad: Nic Maddinson (c), Sean Abbott, Doug Bollinger, Ryan Carters, Trent Copeland, Ed Cowan, Daniel Hughes, Arjun Nair, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Gurinder Sandhu, Will Somerville.

South Australia squad: Travis Head (c), Thomas Andrews, Alex Carey, Mark Cosgrove, Jake Lehmann, Joe Mennie, Gary Putland, Sam Raphael, Alex Ross, Cameron Valente, Jake Weatherald, Daniel Worrall.