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Finch, Turner named for Marsh Cup, firm for Sri Lanka T20s

Key batsmen named to make returns from injury in domestic 50-over competition ahead of Sunday's men's international summer opener

Australia limited-overs captain Aaron Finch and rising star Ashton Turner have firmed to be fit for the men’s international summer opener against Sri Lanka this weekend after both batsmen were named to play in Wednesday's Marsh One-Day Cup clash at the WACA Ground.

Victoria are hopeful Finch, who is nursing a side injury, will be right to feature in their 50-over game against Western Australia in what is his final opportunity for a white-ball tune up before the Gillette T20 campaign against Sri Lanka.

The 32-year-old missed Victoria's Marsh Sheffield Shield defeat to WA that concluded Monday and while he's in the squad for the ensuing one-day game, coach Andrew McDonald stressed the opener would not be risked unless he is 100 per cent fit.

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"We'll give him every chance to play, he just couldn't get up for the Shield game," said McDonald, who was also this week named the new head coach of IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals.

"He's obviously a quality player and one of our leaders so we're keen to have him out there, but it's a long season and if he's not fully fit then we won't take any chances."

Either Alex Carey or Pat Cummins, co vice-captains in Australia’s T20 squad, would lead the side should Finch not be passed fit for Sunday’s match against Sri Lanka.

With Mitch Marsh absent due to a broken hand, Turner, named in Australia's 14-man squad for the three-game series that begins in Adelaide on Sunday, will captain WA as he makes his return from a broken finger.

Turner had his breakout moment in Mohali earlier this year and thrust himself firmly into World Cup selection calculations when he blazed a match-winning unbeaten 84 off just 43 balls against India to help Australia pull off their highest-ever successful ODI run chase.

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While he missed out on a spot for the showpiece ODI tournament Turner's selection for the series against Sri Lanka 12 months out from the T20 World Cup reflects the high regard he’s held in by national selectors.

The 26-year-old has since undergone surgery on a troublesome right shoulder that hindered him in the field and stopped him from bowling his handy off-spin.

Marsh broke his hand when he punched a wall in frustration following his dismissal during the Shield game last week.

Fast bowlers Nathan Coulter-Nile (calf) and Joel Paris (hamstring) join him on the injury list with Aaron Hardie and Lance Morris, fresh off taking 11 wickets and a hat-trick in Premier Cricket on the weekend, coming into their 13-man squad.

Victoria will be without four of their first-choice Shield bowlers with James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Chris Tremain and Scott Boland all rested after heavy workloads.

Xavier Crone is in line to make his debut, with the 21-year-old brought into the squad alongside fellow quicks Will Sutherland, Jackson Coleman and Andrew Fekete.

Western Australia squad: Ashton Turner (c), Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright, Aaron Hardie, Matthew Kelly, Shaun Marsh, Lance Morris, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.

Victoria squad: Peter Handscomb (c), Jackson Coleman, Xavier Crone, Andrew Fekete, Aaron Finch, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Jon Holland, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Will Pucovski, Matthew Short, Will Sutherland.