Swepson returns for crucial Shield clash

Queensland leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson is set to make his cricket comeback this weekend after being named in the Bulls' Marsh Sheffield Shield squad to face NSW.

Swepson has not played since early February due to a rare stress fracture in his neck that abruptly halted what was fast shaping as a career summer for the 27-year-old.

The Queenslander started the 2020-21 summer with a bang, taking 23 wickets in three Shield matches before he was drafted into Australia's T20 team for the injured Ashton Agar.

He played all three T20 internationals against India and was named player of the match in the third game in Sydney where he took 3-23 in a 12-run win.

Swepson was also part of Australia's squad for the Vodafone Test Series but did not play, before featuring in six games in BBL|10 for the Brisbane Heat who were knocked out in The Challenger by runners-up Perth Scorchers.

After developing neck pain during the BBL, scans revealed Swepson had sustained a stress fracture in the C6 vertebrae which initially had him in doubt for the rest of the season.

But now Swepson is ready to return and is set to face the Blues in Woollongong starting Saturday.

The Bulls will be without allrounder Jack Wildermuth for both the Shield and Marsh One-day Cup clash on Wednesday as he remains at home for the birth of his first child.

Queensland sit on top of both the four-day and 50-over competition standings and wins over NSW this week will cement top spot and the Bulls as hosts of the respective finals.

However, losses to NSW could see them miss out on the final in both competitions, making both matches against their fierce southern rivals vital.

Due to the snap three-day lockdown imposed on Greater Brisbane today following the latest COVID-19 outbreak in the Queensland capital, the Bulls will fly to Sydney today ahead of schedule.

Wednesday's Marsh Cup match will take place at North Sydney Oval from 2pm local time, with the winner to host the final on April 11.

Queensland Marsh Cup squad: Usman Khawaja (c), Xavier Bartlett, James Bazley, Max Bryant, Joe Burns, Brendan Doggett, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake

Queensland Sheffield Shield squad: Usman Khawaja (c), Xavier Bartlett, Joe Burns, Brendan Doggett, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Bryce Street, Mitchell Swepson