Blues, Bulls welcome back Test stars

Nic Maddinson will skipper a NSW squad comprising Test incumbents Nathan Lyon and Peter Nevill for their Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia in Christchurch, New Zealand.

For the first time a Shield game will be held across the Tasman, with the match also being used as a warm-up for Test players involved in Australia's tour of New Zealand.

Off-spinner Will Somerville has been selected and is no stranger to New Zealand conditions having played first-class cricket for Otago.

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The Blues will be without left-arm spinner Stephen O'Keefe, who is still recovering from a calf injury sustained during the third Test against West Indies in Sydney, while fast bowler Gurinder Sandhu has been omitted for the match beginning on February 3.

The NSW Blues are currently third on the Sheffield Shield ladder with 23.8 points behind leaders Victoria (27.66 points) and second-placed South Australia (27 points).

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Queensland meanwhile, welcome back Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns for next week’s Sheffield Shield match against South Australia in Adelaide.

KFC T20 Big Bash League player of the year Chris Lynn will also appear for the Bulls for the first time this season after missing the first half of the summer recovering from a shoulder injury.

Gold Coast allrounder Michael Neser, who played for the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL, is another to come into the Queensland Shield squad for the first time this season.

Khawaja, who will captain the side, and Burns will make their second appearance of the summer for Queensland.

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Their availability means Marnus Labuschagne, Scott Henry and Mark Steketee have been omitted from the last Queensland team that played in December prior to the BBL, while Ben Cutting (hip) and Nathan Reardon (finger) were not considered for selection.

Also returning to the Bulls line-up is former South Australia paceman Peter George who has shaken off a hamstring complaint that sidelined him before Christmas.

George took 4-40 in the Queensland Academy of Sport’s win over South Australia in their Toyota Futures League 2nd XI match in Adelaide this week, a match that also featured a century in each innings by rising young batsman Sam Heazlett (119 & 170no).

NSW squad for WA clash: Nic Maddinson (c), Sean Abbott, Doug Bollinger, Ryan Carters, Trent Copeland, Ed Cowan, Daniel Hughes, Josh Lalor, Nathan Lyon, Peter Nevill, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Will Somerville.

Qld squad for SA clash: Usman Khawaja (c), Joe Burns, Jason Floros, Peter George, Chris Hartley, Sam Heazlett, James Hopes, Chris Lynn, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Mitch Swepson, Jack Wildermuth.

Cricket.com.au will be live streaming the NSW v WA Sheffield Shield match in Christchurch.