Sheffield Shield 2024-25 – Josh Hazlewood set for season opener, Nathan Lyon rested

Hazlewood was due to play in last week’s One Day Cup match against Victoria alongside Pat Cummins but withdrew on the morning of the game due to illness. It means the Sheffield Shield game against Queensland will be his first game since the England tour ended in late September and will be his only competitive game before the first Test against India.

Lyon had been expected to feature in three Shield matches before the Test series, but he has bowled 104 overs in two matches against South Australia and Victoria and is understood to be unlikely to feature again before the India clash. .

Most states have been beaten heavily in the third round of the Shield by Australia ODI and Australia A call-ups. From their previous XI, alongside Lyon, NSW are missing Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Sean Abbott, Sam Konstas and Josh Phillippe for that same series.

Ollie Davies is also part of the Australia A squad but will play in the second four-day game next week at the MCG so is available to face Queensland. And in a NSW boost, allrounder Jack Edwards has recovered from a hamstring injury. Lyon’s absence means that Legspinner Tanveer Sangha will be able to return to the playing XI.

Mitchell Swepson will captain Queensland with Marnus Labuschagne on ODI duty. There are also Michael Neser (Australia A) and Mark Steketee (ankle), Gurinder Sandhu (calf), Callum Vidler (groin). Jimmy Peirson will be wicket-taker in Australia A’s second match next week.

Tasmania have lost Beau Webster to Australia Work but welcome back Gabe Bell and Lawrence Neil-Smith after the two seamers were rested in the Shield final against WA.

South Australia lacks key players as Nathan McSweeney is the captain of Australia A and pace bowlers Jordan Buckingham, Brendon Doggett and Nathan McAndrew are in the team. Alex Carey, who has been in outstanding form, will captain against Victoria.

New South Wales team Jackson Bird, Ollie Davies, Jack Edwards, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hadley, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques (captain), Nic Maddinson, Blake Nikitaras, Kurtis Patterson, Tanveer Sangha

The Queensland team 4. Mitchell Swepson (captain), Jack Clayton, Benji Floros, Liam Guthrie, Lachlan Hearne, Usman Khawaja, Angus Lovell, Ben McDermott, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Jack Sinfield, Tom Straker, Jack Wildermuth

South Australian team Alex Carey (capt), Harry Conway, Daniel Drew, Henry Hunt, Thomas Kelly, Jake Lehmann, Ben Manenti, Conor McInerney, Lloyd Pope, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Henry Thornton

The Tasmanian team Gabe Bell, Jake Doran, Kieran Elliott, Brad Hope, Caleb Jewell, Matt Kuhnemann, Riley Meredith, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Mitch Owen, Jordan Silk (capt), Charlie Wakim, Jake Weatherald

The Western Australian team Sam Whiteman (captain), Ashton Agar, Mahli Beardman, Hilton Cartwright, Brody Couch, Joel Curtis, Sam Fanning, Cameron Gannon, Jayden Goodwin, Matt Kelly, Joel Paris, Ashton Turner, Teague Wyllie

Other teams will be named