Vics name huge squad for tilt at 'three-peat'

Sheffield Shield champions Victoria have named a massive 31-player squad for the 2016-17 summer when they will seek a third consecutive domestic first-class title.

It is the largest contract squad ever named by the Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers, bolstered by five star players holding Cricket Australia central contracts. Those players are Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle.

Five players who have previously been on rookie contracts have been upgraded to the full list, while a further six new rookies have been named.

Fast bowlers Ryan Sidebottom and Ben Ashkenazi have been delisted, while former Australia bowler Clint McKay has retired.

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The Bushrangers new recruits includes tall fast bowler Jackson Coleman, who represented the Australian Under-19s in 2010 before giving up cricket and pursue an Australian Rules football career.

Coleman gave up on his AFL dream last winter after an ankle injury and returned to cricket with Victoria in the Toyota Futures League last summer, earning a call-up to the Melbourne Stars squad, but did not feature in BBL|05.

"It's been an unbelievable experience, around the likes of Kevin Pietersen and John Hastings, a dream come true," Coleman told the Stars club website last summer.

"Getting knowledge off them, seeing how they prepare and practice. It's been a real eye-opener."

Coleman, now 24, was on a rookie contract in 2009-10 and has now secured a two-year deal.

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"Jackson had obvious talent through the youth program for Victoria," Victorian Chairman of Selectors Andrew Lynch said.

"He was part of the successful Australian Under-19 World Cup squad in 2010 and has performed well last season in both Futures and Premier cricket.

"As an impressive left-arm quick, towering well over 6ft, he has his best cricket in front of him."

The Bushrangers confirmed the arrival of batsman Marcus Harris from Western Australia, whom Warriors coach Justin Langer described as "mediocre with flashes of brilliance".

Lynch said Harris was "a young player who has proven himself at first-class level" he hoped would form a youthful backbone of Victoria's batting alongside Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis and Travis Dean.

Sebastian Gotch and Matthew Short featured in the inaugural CA XI team in last year's Matador Cup on rookie contracts, and have earned full contracts this season.

Left-arm quick Tom O'Donnell, the son of Australia one-day great Simon, has been included on the state's rookie list, as has wicketkeeper Sam Harper who impressed on Sheffield Shield debut last season taking a record nine dismissals.

Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers 2016-17 squad: Fawad Ahmed, Aaron Ayre, Scott Boland, Daniel Christian, Jackson Coleman, Travis Dean, Sebastian Gotch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Ian Holland, Jon Holland, James Muirhead, Robert Quiney, Jake Reed, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Tremain, Matthew Wade, Guy Walker, Cameron White. CA contracted: Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle. Rookie contracts: Xavier Crone, Sam Grimwade, Sam Harper, Jackson Koop, Tom O'Donnell, Blake Thomson.