Blues name Shield squad

---

NSW defeated Western Australia by 102 runs at Bankstown Oval on Sunday to win the Marsh Cup and claim their 12th One Day crown. Nine of the eleven players that were part of the team to secure victory over WA have been included in the Shield squad for the clash against Queensland.

Among those players selected are Australian stars Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon as well as Sunday’s stand outs Jack Edwards and allrounder Sean Abbott.

Edwards was named Player of the Final after his composed 108 steered the Blues to what turned out to be an imposing 8/251. It was his second century at the One Day domestic level.

In his return from split webbing in his right hand, Abbott claimed 4-23 from seven overs picking up the vital wickets of Sixers teammate Josh Philippe (14), WA captain Mitch Marsh (17), the dangerous Josh Inglis (29) and Ashton Turner (1).

Captain Peter Nevill is part of the squad with his availability dependent on the pending birth of his second child.

Exciting leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha has again been included as a potential debutant and would receive Baggy Blue cap No. 756, if he was to gain selection in the XI for the Shield Final against Queensland.

Sangha is joined by 20-year-old Lachlan Hearne in the Shield squad who made 50 on First Class debut during the draw against Queensland over Easter.

Proving himself as a genuine allrounder this season, Abbott is the Blues second leading run-scorer in the Shield behind Moises Henriques (633), who is unavailable due to Indian Premier League duties.

Abbott has scored 525 runs at an average of 75 including a maiden First Class ton.

“Obviously a massive game for us next week against another good side who are in some good form, we’ll enjoy the (Marsh Cup) win … and then take that into next week,” Abbott said following Sunday’s Final.

Edwards was equally excited about the possibility of the double.

“Super excited. I was talking to (Daniel Hughes) before and we got the Big Bash title with the Sixers and now the One Day, so hopefully against the Bulls we can get that third one for the season, that would be pretty amazing,” Edwards said on Sunday.

Queensland earned hosting rights for the Shield Final by finishing top of the table, less than two points clear of the Blues.

A rain-affected draw against Queensland at North Dalton Park in Wollongong over Easter was enough for NSW to qualify for the Final after Western Australia fell short of an outright win against Tasmania.

NSW Blues Marsh Sheffield Shield Final squad
vs. Queensland, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
Thursday April 15-19, 2021

Sean ABBOTT
Harry CONWAY
Trent COPELAND
Jack EDWARDS
Matthew GILKES
Josh HAZLEWOOD
Lachlan HEARNE
Baxter HOLT
Daniel HUGHES
Nathan LYON
Peter NEVILL
Kurtis PATTERSON
Jason SANGHA
Tanveer SANGHA
Mitchell STARC