All the latest team news and insights ahead of round three of Australia’s premier first-class competition
South Australia v Western Australia, Adelaide Oval, October 28-31 (10:30am ACDT)
Click here for the Match Centre
SA squad: Wes Agar, Brendan Doggett, Matthew Gilkes, Mackenzie Harvey, Jake Lehmann, Ben Manenti, Nathan McAndrew, Nathan McSweeney, Lloyd Pope, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Jake Weatherald
Ins: Wes Agar, Matthew Gilkes, Mackenzie Harvey. Outs: Henry Hunt (concussion protocols), Harry Nielsen (omitted), Henry Thornton (parental leave)
South Australian opener Henry Hunt will miss the clash with WA after being diagnosed with concussion. Hunt copped a heavy blow on the helmet while fielding at short leg on the final day of SA loss to Queensland in the previous round.
‘Going to sting’: Hunt walks off after copping full force of Clayton’s pull shot
Matthew Gilkes has been recalled and is expected to take the wicketkeeping gloves for SA for the first time with Harry Nielsen omitted. Gilkes crossed to SA from NSW during the off-season and has been in scintillating form in the One-Day Cup this season with scores of 97 not out followed by his maiden century. He made his Shield debut for the state in their season opener as a concussion replacement for Jake Weatherald.
Gilkes breaks through for first professional century
Wes Agar and Mackenzie Harvey also return to the squad, replacing Hunt and Henry Thornton, who is on parental leave.
Fast bowlers Jordan Buckingham (side strain) and Campbell Thompson (hamstring) are still recovering from their respective injuries, with both players targeting a return to selection within the next two or three weeks. Allrounder Jerrssis Wadia is also unavailable due to a minor side strain.
Meanwhile, left-arm quick Spencer Johnson has returned to red-ball cricket during SA’s ongoing Second XI clash with Victoria in Mildura where Jake Fraser-McGurk, Noah McFadyen and Hanno Jacobs are also featuring.
WA squad: Hilton Cartwright (c), Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Brody Couch, Joel Curtis, Kieran Elliott, Albert Esterhuysen, Jayden Goodwin, Liam Haskett, Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Corey Wasley, Sam Whiteman
In: Ashton Agar. Outs: Aaron Hardie (shoulder), Joel Paris (hamstring)
Hilton Cartwright will captain Western Australia in round three with regular skipper Aaron Hardie to miss the clash with South Australia with a shoulder injury. Hardie was subbed out of WA’s previous round draw with NSW on day two after hurting his left shoulder while batting and must now serve the mandatory 12-day stand-down period under Cricket Australia’s injury substitution trial.
Cartwright takes the reins having previously led WA in a Sheffield Shield match in 2019.
Fast bowler Joel Paris also drops out of the squad due to a hamstring injury suffered while fielding on day three against NSW, with the left-armer then surviving 82 balls alongside Joel Curtis (19no off 113) to secure a famous draw for his state.
Spin-bowling allrounder Ashton Agar is in the mix to play his first Shield match in more than a year and is the sole inclusion to the squad for round three. Agar last played first-class cricket in round one of last season, taking four wickets and scoring 23 and 42. He was also a strong contributor with both bat and ball in Saturday’s one-day loss to NSW and took a brilliant one-handed catch to dismiss Ben Dwarshius.
Ashton Agar’s ridiculous classic catch
Having replaced Hardie prior to day three to make his first-class debut in last week’s match, Corey Wasley is in the mix to play his first full Shield game. WA is on top of the standings after two rounds, holding a narrow advantage over second-placed Tasmania, who next face NSW in Hobart.
Tasmania v NSW, Bellerive Oval, October 30-November 2 (10:30am AEDT)
Click here for the Match Centre
Tasmania squad: To be announced
Tim Ward was a late out for Tasmania last round, injured in the warm-up on day one of their thrilling four-run win over Victoria last round, while batter Ben McDermott battled through a back spasm to post a match-winning century in the first innings.
NSW squad: Nic Maddinson (c), Sean Abbott, Oliver Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Liam Hatcher, Ryan Hicks, Bryce Jackson, Sam Konstas, Kurtis Patterson, Will Salzmann, Jake Scott, Lachlan Shaw
Nic Maddinson has been released from the Test squad in South Africa and is back to captain the Blues’ push for their first win of the season after the side has dominated their two drawn matches so far.
It will be Maddinson’s first outing as Blues skipper this summer, a role he was appointed to in the off-season having previously captained the state in the 2015-16 summer before he moved to Victoria. Lachy Shaw had led the state in Maddinson’s absence.
The Blues have also recalled Bryce Jackson for his second Shield match of the summer after he claimed 3-36 on debut against this same opposition in Round 1 in Sydney.
Josh Philippe’s fall down the pecking order continues as he is droppped out of the squad entirely this round, with spinner Tanveer Sangha also out for the early-season trip to Hobart, while former skipper Jack Edwards has is out of the Shield match to manage his workloads.
Queensland v Victoria, Gabba, October 31-November 3 (10am AEST)
Click here for the Match Centre
Queensland squad: To be announced
The Bulls return home to Brisbane after starting the season with a narrow loss and win over the reigning champions in a road trip to Perth and Adelaide.
Victoria squad: To be announced
Wicketkeeper-batter Sam Harper is back from Test squad duties in South Africa, while Mitch Perry is also in line to play his first match of the Shield season after returning from a bone stress injury to claim 4-9 in Victoria’s One-Day Cup win over Tasmania last Saturday.
Round 1
Team
Matches played
M
Wins
W
Losses
L
Ties
T
Drawn
D
No results
N/R
Deductions
Ded.
Batting Bonus
Bat
Bowling Bonus
Bowl
Total points
PTS
1
Western Australia Men
WA
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
1.27
1.5
9.77
2
Tasmanian Tigers Men
TAS
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
0.86
1.9
9.76
3
South Australia Men
SA
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
1.42
2
9.42
4
NSW Men
NSW
2
0
0
0
2
0
0
4.75
1.9
8.65
5
Queensland Bulls
QLD
2
1
1
0
0
0
-1
1.45
2
8.45
6
Victoria Men
VIC
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0.51
1.6
2.11
Legend
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
D: Drawn
N/R: No results
Ded.: Deductions
Bat: Batting Bonus
Bowl: Bowling Bonus
PTS: Total points