Round one Sheffield Shield squads as they drop

The 125th edition of the Sheffield Shield begins this week with matches in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, coinciding with Australia's Test tour of South Africa. Below you'll find the squads for each state as they are named.

Victoria v South Australia, Junction Oval, October 7-10

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Victoria squad: Peter Handscomb (c), Austin Anlezark, Liam Blackford, Sam Elliott, Marcus Harris, Harry Hoekstra, Campbell Kellaway, David Moody, Fergus O'Neill, Oliver Peake, Matt Short, Doug Warren

 

Players away in representative squads: Scott Boland, Sam Harper (Australian Test), Todd Murphy, Will Sutherland (Australia A one-day)

Victoria enter their season opener - a rematch of last summer's Shield final - with three potential debutants in the squad: Austin Anlezark, Liam Blackford and Hoarry Hoekstra. Blackford seems certain to play as the side's gloveman following Sam Harper's surprise call-up to the Australia Test squad as wicketkeeping back-up. It presents a great opportunity for Blackford to continue his outstanding start to the summer that saw him smash a record century on his One-Day Cup debut against Queensland. 

While Todd Murphy and Will Sutherland are absent with Australia A's one-day side in India, the state has welcomed back Peter Handscomb, Campbell Kellaway and Fergus O'Neill after they played first-class cricket for Australia A on that India tour, while rising star Ollie Peake switches back to the red ball after his stint with Australia's ODI side in Africa. 

"Last season showed what this group is capable of across a long Shield campaign, but this is a new season, and we're excited to be back in action," said Victoria head coach Chris Rogers. "We've also got a really exciting group of young players pushing for opportunities. Austin, Liam and Harry have all earned their place in the squad through their performances and development, and it's exciting to see them putting pressure on for selection."

South Australia squad: To be announced

 

Players away in representative squads: Alex Carey, Travis Head (Australian Test), Spencer Johnson, Nathan McSweeney, Liam Scott (Australia A one-day)

NSW v Tasmania, Cricket Central, October 8-11

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NSW squad: To be announced

 

Players away in representative squads: Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Nic Maddinson (Australian Test), Ben Dwarshuis, Sam Konstas, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Lachlan Shaw (Australia A one-day)

Tasmania squad: Jordan Silk (c), Marcus Bean, Gabe Bell, Jake Doran, Brad Hope, Caleb Jewell, Raf MacMillan, Caelan Maladay, Ben McDermott, Aidan O'Connor, Will Prestwidge, Tim Ward, Teague Wyllie

 

Players away in representative squads: Matthew Kuhnemann, Beau Webster (Australian Test), Nikhil Chaudhary, Mitch Owen, Riley Meredith (Australia A one-day)

Teague Wyllie is set for his first match as a Tasmanian after his off-season move from Western Australia, while Marcus Bean, Will Prestwidge and Caelan Malady are all in line for a Sheffield Shield debut in the Tigers' opening match in Sydney. Tasmania are missing five first-choice regulars due to Test or Australia A duty, while the state has also bid farewell to Kieran Elliott who moved to WA in the winter. 

Expectations are high around Wyllie who was squeezed out of the WA system, with Jake Weatherald having returned to South Australia, although the Tasmanians were coy on where the 22-year-old would bat, citing his versatility to open or play a middle-order role. And Bean had a taste of the top-flight with 0-27 in four overs in Tasmania's One-Day Cup opener in Perth and is in line to take the new ball on Shield debut. 

"At the back end of last season we had a chat as a group and we weren't too far off," wicketkeeper-batter Jake Doran said today. "So I think this season it's just trying to figure out some of those areas, which we've definitely identified, and we're looking forward to this round one.

"One thing we've really strived for is trying to have a challenging environment. These younger guys that are coming through do definitely challenge the senior guys. That's what we want. It's a great opportunity for some of the guys potentially debuting.

"We've definitely got some guys out this round which we would have liked to have back, but I think it's one of those seasons where we've got enough senior guys around us to control the game and try and steer some success early for us in round one and round two."

Western Australia v Queensland, WACA Ground, October 8-11

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Western Australia squad: To be announced

 

Players away in representative squads: Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (Australian Test), Mahli Beardman (Australia A one-day)

Queensland squad: Mitchell Swepson (c), Xavier Bartlett, Hugo Burdon, Jack Clayton, Cameron Gannon, Lachlan Hearne, Hayden Kerr, Angus Lovell, Dylan McLachlan, Jimmy Peirson, Jem Ryan, Tom Straker, Hugh Weibgen

 

Players away in representative squads: Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw (Australian Test)

Queensland are missing big guns Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw and Michael Neser to Australia's Test tour of South Africa, but have been bolstered by the return of Xavier Bartlett who had been in Africa with the national team's ODI squad. Veteran quick Cameron Gannon is also set for his return to Queensland colours after several years with Western Australia.