Quicks to miss, Lyon in doubt for opening Shield round

Australia’s Ashes heroes Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will miss NSW’s opening Marsh Sheffield Shield match against Queensland next week, while Test spinner Nathan Lyon is also in doubt due to an ankle problem.

Lyon played the final two Tests of Australia’s Ashes campaign with a sore right ankle and he could be held back from an early Shield return to ensure he’s fully recovered in time for the first Test of the summer, against Pakistan in late November.

Lyon also played through a painful finger injury during the final two Ashes Tests after a large callus on his spinning finger split open during the fourth match of the series in Manchester.

There are no injury concerns for either Cummins or Hazlewood after the Ashes, but selectors are determined for them to be fully recharged ahead of the Domain Tests against Pakistan and New Zealand this summer.

The pace duo will be rested from the opening two rounds of the Shield before returning for NSW’s Marsh One-Day Cup match against Tasmania at the SCG on October 23.

Hazlewood is then aiming to play Shield games against South Australia and Western Australia in early November, while Cummins is targeting Australia’s T20 series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan before making his Shield return against WA.

Even without Australia’s three Ashes bowlers, next week’s game at the Gabba will still be a star-studded affair with Steve Smith and David Warner to join Mitchell Starc in the NSW side.

Queensland are set to include three members of Australia’s Ashes squad - Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser - alongside former Test openers Joe Burns and Matthew Renshaw.

NSW left-hander Kurtis Patterson, who made his Test debut last summer, is hopeful of overcoming a minor quad injury to also play in Brisbane.

There are four Shield rounds before the start of the Test summer, which will be pivotal selection pointers as Australia look for batsmen to put their case forward after their struggles during the Ashes.

Matthew Wade and Tim Paine have both been named in Tasmania’s squad for their opening Shield match in Perth, where Cameron Bancroft will be hoping to push his case after a disappointing Ashes campaign with the bat.

WA quick Jhye Richardson is also expected to make his Shield return after missing the winter campaigns due to a shoulder injury, while incumbent Test No.6 Mitch Marsh will captain the side.

In Melbourne, incumbent Test opener Marcus Harris will be hoping to impress in Victoria’s Shield opener against South Australia, while Redbacks skipper Travis Head will be aiming for a bright start to the Shield season after he was axed for the final Ashes Test at The Oval.

The likes of Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Will Pucovski and Alex Carey are also set to feature in the high-profile clash at Junction Oval.