Hazlewood named in Blues squad

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Australian Test quick Josh Hazlewood and three potential debutants have been named in a 12-man NSW Blues squad to travel to Adelaide for round three of the Marsh Sheffield Shield this week.

Exciting young batsman Matt Gilkes, 20, fast bowler Liam Hatcher, 23, and 24-year-old opener Daniel Solway may all make their debut in the match against South Australia at the Adelaide Oval starting Friday.

Hazlewood joins Test teammate Nathan Lyon in the squad including six changes from the squad named to play last round against Tasmania at Drummoyne Oval that the Blues won by eight wickets making it two wins from two to start the season.

Steve Smith, David Warner, Mitchell Starc and right-arm fast bowler Sean Abbott are all unavailable due to national selection for the T20 series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Abbott received a late call up to the T20 squad on Saturday as cover for injured seamer Andrew Tye.

Kurtis Patterson will continue his recovery from injury this week and left-arm finger spinner Stephen O’Keefe is the other to miss out for the Blues. Opening batsman Nick Larkin and 26-year-old left-hander Nick Bertus return to the squad.

Hazlewood returns to First Class cricket for the first time since the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval in mid-September.

The imposing right-arm quick from Bendemeer in Northern NSW was vital to Australia retaining the Ashes claiming 20 wickets in the four Tests he played. He averaged just under 22.

All three potential debutants earn their selection through weight of runs and wickets.

Hatcher has claimed a five-wicket haul in every innings he has bowled for NSW Metro this season in the Toyota Second XI, four straight including best figures of 6-47.

When his final two matches of last season are included, Hatcher has claimed five-wicket hauls in six of his last seven innings totalling 36 wickets.

Hatcher has played one First Class match for the Cricket Australia Xi in 2015.

After a break-out season in 2018/19 when he made his Sydney Thunder debut and scored more than 500 runs at Second XI level, Gilkes has continued to make an impression early on this season.

On 30 September, Gilkes made his One-Day domestic debut for the Blues against Western Australia, and in just his second match demonstrated his dynamic ball-striking ability smashing 82 from just 51 balls against the same opponent.

In his only match for ACT/NSW Country this season, Gilkes made 147 and 72 effectively saving his side from outright defeat against Tasmania.

Like Gilkes, Solway has been prolific at Second XI level. He is the second leading run-scorer in the competition with 334 runs in two matches including a typically composed 195 not out, carrying his bat against Western Australia, and posting his highest score for NSW Metropolitan.

Since the start of the 2017/18 season, Solway has scored more than 1200 runs at an average better than 50 in Second XI cricket that has changed its name from the Toyota Futures League this season.

Similarly, during the last two seasons of NSW Premier Cricket for Bankstown, he has scored 2,109 runs at 49. Solway was formerly contracted with the Blues as a rookie in 2015/16.

NSW Blues squad

Peter NEVILL (c)

Nick BERTUS

Harry CONWAY

Trent COPELAND

Matthew GILKES

Liam HATCHER

Josh HAZLEWOOD

Moises HENRIQUES

Daniel HUGHES

Nick LARKIN

Nathan LYON

Daniel SOLWAY