Ashes hopes prompt NSW shake-up

NSW Blues have had to ring in the changes for their bowling attack as teams have unveiled their changes for the third round of the JLT Sheffield Shield.

The NSW Blues have made three changes to their squad to take on myFootDr Queensland Bulls, beginning at Allan Border Field on Monday.

With Test pacemen Mitchell Starc - who took two hat-tricks in the Blues' previous Shield clash - Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins being rested ahead of the first Test against England, Doug Bollinger, Sean Abbott and Harry Conway have been recalled.

Former Test seamer Trent Copeland, who claimed 6-24 in the first innings of the opening match against South Australia, was 12th man during the most recent match against Alcohol.Think Again Western Warriors when the star pace trio played a first-class match together for the first time.

NSW and Australian captain Steve Smith, his vice-captain David Warner, and Test spinner Nathan Lyon will all play for the Blues again next week against Queensland.

The Blues have charged to the top of the JLT Sheffield Shield table thanks to imposing swing and seam bowling, with NSW and Queensland the only undefeated sides after two rounds.

Image Id: 967A96BC2E3B4EBAA66DBB180FB706E5 Image Caption: Australian captain Steve Smith will line up for NSW in its Sheffield Shield clash // Getty

NSW coach Trent Johnston said this match has an opportunity to open up a lead over the rest of the competition.

“The Australian guys have laid the foundation for us,” Johnston said.

“We spoke about getting off to a good start and they’ve put down a platform for the rest of the squad guys to come in.

“To have Australian representative bowlers as replacements is a luxury we have.

“They would have been disappointed to miss the first couple of games but they have their opportunity now and it’s pretty exciting.

“We’ve still got plenty of experience with the bat with Warner and Smith, who are in good nick.”

Johnston believes Allan Bolder Field may give Lyon more of an opportunity than he’s had in the previous two matches, which have been dominated by pace.

“It tends to spin more from day one and if Doug plays he’ll create a bit of rough outside the right hander’s off-stump,” Johnston said.

Queensland has named an unchanged squad for the clash, while West End Redbacks are likewise unchanged for their game against the Western Warriors.

Tasmanian Tigers have made two changes ahead of their Shield game against the Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers, with James Faulkner and Riley Meredith brought into the squad.

The pair replace Andrew Fekete, who is nursing a foot injury, and Jackson Bird, who will travel to Brisbane to train with other fast bowlers in contention for Australia’s first Test squad for the Magellan Ashes Series.

Tim Paine, who is part of the CA XI tour squad, has been named in the Tigers’ squad and is available to play. If selected, he will be pulled from the CA XI squad which is set to face England in Townsville next week.

The Bushrangers will confirm their squad on Saturday.

JTL Sheffield Shield round three squads:

NSW: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Doug Bollinger, Harry Conway, Trent Copeland, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Kurtis Patterson, David Warner

Queensland: Usman Khawaja (c), Joe Burns, Brendan Doggett, Luke Feldman, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, James Peirson (wk), Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson, Sam Truloff, Jack Wildermuth.

South Australia: Travis Head (c), Callum Ferguson, Alex Carey, Tom Cooper, John Dalton, Jake Lehmann, Joe Mennie, Kane Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Jake Weatherald, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa.

Tasmania: George Bailey (c), Gabe Bell, Alex Doolan, Jake Doran, James Faulkner, Ben Mcdermott, Riley Meredith, Tim Paine, Sam Rainbird, Tom Rogers, Jordan Silk, Matthew Wade, Beau Webster

Western Australia: TBC

Victoria: TBC