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Injured Test quicks pencil in return date

Star fast bowlers expected to give NSW a boost late in the JLT Cup as they gets ready for international summer

Test quicks Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are set to bolster NSW for their JLT One-Day Cup finals campaign, with a return date pencilled in for October 1.

After taking 1-30 from eight overs for St George in their NSW Premier Cricket clash against David Warner's Randwick-Petersham on Saturday, Hazlewood confirmed he's expecting to play for the Blues against Queensland on Monday week at Drummoyne Oval.

Image Id: 92F839BBDAC24111A766ABACF93B058C Image Caption: Hazlewood bowls to Warner at Coogee Oval on Saturday // Getty

Cummins, who took 2-12 from six overs and made a quick-fire 24 for his club side Penrith on Saturday, is also understood to be available for the Bulls clash.

Last month, the pair were ruled out of Australia's Test series against Pakistan having sat out most of the winter due to back problems. Their lack of bowling in recent months means they have not yet been declared fit for long-form cricket, but have been cleared to play in shorter formats.

The return of the Australian quicks would set up a mouth-watering clash against Queensland captain Chris Lynn, the master blaster who returned to form with a blistering 70 in his side's loss to Tasmania in Townsville.

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It means NSW could welcome back two of the best fast bowlers in the world for the JLT Cup finals, in which all six states qualify regardless of their group-stage record.

The Blues are winless in the tournament so far having suffered heavy defeats to Western Australia and South Australia in Perth and are in action against Victoria on Sunday at North Sydney Oval.

Even if the Blues fail to win a match in the group stage, they will still play finals in the re-jigged competition that aims to put all teams in the pressure cooker of knockout cricket.

Hazlewood looked like his old self at Coogee Oval on Saturday, where he was restricted to eight overs in his first competitive match since the fourth Test against South Africa in April.

"I've been bowling a lot in the nets a couple of times a week and it's obviously different out in the middle," he said following St George's defeat from the last ball of the match after Warner had hammered 155no.

"I feel like I went pretty well. I hit my length nicely and I felt like there was a bit of pace there on occasion.

"I guess it's just about getting back into NSW stuff now and moving on from there.

"It (50 overs) is a long time on the legs.

"Fielding is one thing you can't replicate in training, so it was good to get out there.

"It was a close and exciting game and to field 50 overs and bowl eight I was happy with it."


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