Smith and Starc to Feature for New South Wales in Sheffield Shield Clash

Steven Smith and Mitchell Starc are set to represent New South Wales in their Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the MCG starting Sunday, as they intensify preparations for the upcoming international summer.

Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will not be part of the Shield game but are expected to play in the One-Day Cup match at Junction Oval on October 25. Cummins is unlikely to participate in any red-ball cricket before the Test series against India, and the same situation may apply to Hazlewood, given that the third round of the Shield coincides with the start of the ODI series against Pakistan. Sean Abbott, having recovered from a minor injury picked up during the England tour, will also return to the NSW squad, while Nathan Lyon, fresh off an eight-wicket haul against South Australia, will play again.

Victoria’s squad is expected to include Scott Boland, setting up an exciting contest, especially with 19-year-old opener Sam Konstas in the spotlight after his twin centuries against South Australia and his recent call-up to the Australia A squad.

For Starc, this will be his first Sheffield Shield match since the 2020-21 final against Queensland, while Smith last played a Shield game in February 2021, also against Victoria.

Matthew Gilkes, Ryan Hadley, and Liam Hatcher will sit out of this game after being part of the group that drew with South Australia earlier in the month.

Further squad announcements are expected soon.

New South Wales squad: Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Ollie Davies, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Sam Konstas, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Jack Nisbet, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc.