Injury-plagued Australian fast bowlers Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson are set to make their return to domestic cricket. Both players have been included in Western Australia's 14-man squad for their upcoming One-Day Cup matches against New South Wales and South Australia, scheduled for Sunday and Tuesday at Cricket Central in Sydney.
Morris has not played since suffering a side strain in February during his second ODI, which prematurely ended his season. Although he didn't feel any pain during the off-season, scans revealed a hot spot in his back, ruling him out of the Major League Cricket tournament and Australia's limited-overs tour of the UK. He is set for a slow return to red-ball cricket and will likely play just one of the two upcoming 50-over matches, with WA selecting six fast bowlers for the squad, including veteran uncontracted pacers Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye.
Richardson, on the other hand, has seen some action over the winter following a tough period with hamstring and shoulder injuries. He played one IPL game for Delhi Capitals and participated in three matches for the Perth Scorchers in Darwin's Top End T20 Series in August. While his inclusion in the One-Day Cup is another positive step, it remains uncertain if he will be fit for first-class cricket in the Sheffield Shield next month.
Joining them in WA's squad is left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, who has opted for a freelance cricket career, alongside Behrendorff and Tye. With Josh Inglis away on international duty, Cameron Bancroft is expected to take up wicket keeping responsibilities. Meanwhile, former WA player Josh Philippe, now representing New South Wales, is set to face his former team for the first time. Philippe was a key part of WA's hat-trick of One-Day Cup titles and was named Player of the Tournament for the 2022-23 season.
Western Australia is aiming to make history as the first men’s team to win four consecutive One-Day Cup titles, having already secured five of the last seven championships.
Meanwhile, Tasmania will be without fast bowlers Nathan Ellis and Riley Meredith for their opening One-Day Cup matches against Victoria and Queensland on Monday and Wednesday. Ellis is still recovering from a hamstring injury that forced him out of Australia's UK tour, while Meredith recently returned to Australia and is awaiting further scans on the side injury he sustained during the Scotland tour.