Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith named in New South Wales' squad to face Victoria in Sheffield Shield fixture
Australian Test stars Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc have been named in the New South Wales squad for their Sheffield Shield fixture against Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), beginning on Sunday (October 20). Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins were missing from the 13-man squad.
Nevertheless, Cummins and Hazlewood are likely to feature in the One-day Cup clash against Victoria on October 25. Cummins is also unlikely to play any first-class game before the five-Test series against India and the same could be the case with Hazlewood, with the third round of the Sheffield Shield clashing with the limited-overs leg against Pakistan.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who took a fifer against South Australia, will again feature for the New South Wales. Meanwhile, Starc hasn't featured in a Sheffield Shield fixture since the 2020-21 final, while Smith's last appearance came in February 2021.
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, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.
Steve Smith to return to No. 4 ahead of the Test series against India
Meanwhile, Australian men's team chief selector George Bailey has confirmed Steve Smith's return to No. 4 from the opening spot ahead of the five-Test series against India. Bailey said, as quoted by cricket.com.au:
"Pat, Andrew and Steve Smith had been having ongoing convers, separate to the untimely injury to Cameron (Green). Steve had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position, and Pat and Andrew have confirmed that he will be dropping back down the order for the summer."
The former Australian captain had batted in eight innings at the top of the order, having been promoted after David Warner's retirement. However, he averaged only 28.50 with only one half-century, which came against the West Indies.
The Test series against India gets underway on November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.