Test stars set to bolster Sheffield Shield action

Australia's Test stars will return to the Sheffield Shield in staggered starts over the coming month, with the squad for the series against New Zealand set to be named after this week's round four action.

Chair of selectors George Bailey announced on Monday that Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis and superstar Steve Smith would play for their respective states in round five of the Sheffield Shield.

Bailey also revealed that Marnus Labuschagne would not be considered for the first Test against the Kiwis and likely the whole series.

"Marnus, Michael Neser, Matt Kuhnemann, Beau (Webster), and Nathan Lyon are planning to play Sheffield Shield (round) four," Bailey said.

"Alex Carey, Steve Smith will jump in for round five. Cooper Connolly, 'Greeny' and 'Ingo' (Inglis) are all playing round five.

"They're prepping for the Test series clearly there, and Scott Boland to be confirmed for round five as well."

Round four of the Shield begins this Wednesday, with Victoria hosting Western Australia at the MCG, New South Wales playing South Australia and Queensland taking on Tasmania.

The following round begins on November 22 with old rivals NSW playing Queensland – a fixture headlined by a battle between good friends Smith and Labuschagne.

South Australian dasher Travis Head and his new opening partner, Queensland's Matthew Renshaw, don't have a confirmed Shield return date with Bailey indicating the pair could be rested given the long stretch of Tests coming up after New Zealand; Australia head straight to India for five Tests then return for the 150th Anniversary Test against England in March.

Smith, meanwhile, has spent time after the South Africa series in his home-away-from-home New York City as he recovers from a neck injury that kept him out of the final Test.

Bailey said Smith would not be signed off medically until he returned to Australia in mid-November.

"I was just chatting to him in New York, he's had some specialist appointments there, and some progress in terms of getting to the root of what might have been causing him some trouble in South Africa," Bailey said.

"Hopefully that continues and he's trending in the right direction. His plan is he'll return I think around the 14th or 15th of November and be available for Shield (round) five."

Fast bowling trio Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will continue to be rested ahead of the first Test at Perth Stadium on December 9.

Round 1

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	Drawn D	No results N/R	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	3	2	0	0	1	0	0	2.31	2.9	18.21
2 Western Australia Men WA	3	2	0	0	1	0	0	2.53	2.5	18.03
3 Queensland Bulls QLD	3	1	1	0	1	0	-1	2.18	3	11.18
4 South Australia Men SA	3	1	2	0	0	0	0	1.42	2.4	9.82
5 NSW Men NSW	3	0	1	0	2	0	0	4.77	2.4	9.17
6 Victoria Men VIC	3	0	2	0	1	0	0	1.58	2.4	4.98

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points