The Queensland Bulls will welcome back Test opener Usman Khawaja and leading runs-scorer Jack Clayton for this week’s crucial Sheffield Shield clash against Tasmania in Hobart.
Khawaja, Clayton Back For Bulls
Khawaja was named in the 13-man squad that travelled to Tasmania today to prepare for the match that starts on Thursday.
Clayton also returns from a hamstring injury that saw him miss the Shield and Domestic One Day losses to Western Australia at the Gabba last month.
The Bulls have also included teenage pace bowler Callum Vidler in the squad for the first time this season, with Hugo Burdon and Tom Whitney dropping out of the squad in the changes from the previous game.
Both players were in action today in the last QC practice game of the season between the Bulls squad and Queensland Cricket Academy.
Squad players not considered due to injury included allrounder Hugh Weibgen (finger) and quick Connor Sully (quad) while paceman Tom Straker continues to follow a bowling workload plan.
Queensland sits in fifth place on a tightly-packed Shield ladder, with four points separating the Bulls and second-placed NSW.
Tasmania is a point behind Queensland.
South Australia, winners of the inaugural Dean Jones Cup as the Domestic One Day champions, are on top of the first class ladder with two rounds remaining.
The match will be streamed live on cricket.com.au
Sheffield Shield
Queensland v Tasmania
Ninja Stadium, Hobart
Thurs – Sun
Queensland Bulls
Mitchell Swepson (c)
Xavier Bartlett
Jack Clayton
Lachlan Hearne
Usman Khawaja
Angus Lovell
Ben McDermott
Michael Neser
Jimmy Peirson
Matthew Renshaw
Mark Steketee
Callum Vidler
Jack Wildermuth