World Cup champions Shane Watson and Josh Hazlewood have been named in the NSW Blues’ 14-man squad for the 2015/16 Matador BBQs One Day Cup.
Runners-up in each of the last two seasons, NSW will be aiming to win their first National One Day tournament since 2005/06.
Moises Henriques, who is the only survivor from that title winning team, will captain the Blues. The all-rounder is one of nine players in the NSW squad who have represented Australia in either Test, One Day or T20 cricket.
This includes fast bowler Gurinder Sandhu, who was the leading wicket taker in last year’s Matador BBQs One Day Cup, and batsman Ed Cowan who is playing his first season for NSW since 2008/09.
With both Stephen O’Keefe and Nathan Lyon selected for Australia’s Test tour of Bangladesh, NSW selectors have turned to Northern District off-spinner Chris Green to provide the team’s slow bowling option. The 21-year-old, who was born in South Africa, made his State debut for the Blues during last summer’s competition.
Campbelltown-Camden batsman Ryan Gibson has also earned a call-up to the NSW squad following some impressive pre-season form while Ryan Carters will assume wicketkeeping duties with Peter Nevill on Test duty.
The full NSW Blues squad for the 2015/16 Matador One Day Cup is (club/Sydney junior cricket association or NSW regional zone in brackets):
Moises Henriques (captain – St George/Georges River-St George DCA)
Sean Abbott (Parramatta/Parramatta DCA)
Doug Bollinger (Fairfield-Liverpool/Parramatta DCA)
Ryan Carters (Sydney University/ACT)
Ed Cowan (Sydney University/South Eastern Junior Cricket Association)
Ryan Gibson (Campbelltown-Camden/Penrith JCA)
Chris Green (Northern District/North Shore JCA)
Josh Hazlewood (St George/Central Northern)
Josh Lalor (Penrith/Penrith JCA)
Nic Maddinson (Eastern Suburbs/Southern)
Kurtis Patterson (St George/Georges River-St George DCA)
Ben Rohrer (Fairfield-Liverpool/Farifield-Liverpool DCA)
Gurinder Sandhu (Fairfield-Liverpool/Blacktown DCA)
Shane Watson (Sutherland)
For the first time, all States have been asked to name a 14-man squad for the tournament with any contracted players not selected becoming eligible to be picked in the Cricket Australia XI.
This team will be chosen by Cricket Australia National Talent Manager Greg Chappell, along with the State Talent Managers, and coached by Troy Cooley.
This summer’s Matador BBQ’s One Day Cup will again be held entirely in Sydney with matches played at North Sydney Oval, Drummoyne Oval, Bankstown Oval, Blacktown International Sportspark and Hurstville Oval.
Tickets for matches are just $10 for adults, $5 for concessions with free entry for children under 15. All tickets are available for purchase at the gate.
Draw for the 2015/16 Matador One Day Cup
North Sydney Oval
Queensland vs Tasmania, 5 October 2015
NSW vs South Australia, 8 October 2015*
South Australia vs Queensland, 11 October 2015*
Western Australia vs Cricket Australia XI, 15 October 2015*
NSW vs Victoria, 18 October 2015*
Tasmania vs Victoria, 20 October 2015*
Final, 25 October 2015*
Drummoyne Oval
Queensland vs NSW, 16 October 2015 (d/n)*
Tasmania vs Western Australia, 17 October 2015 (d/n)*
Queensland vs Cricket Australia XI, 19 October 2015*
Cricket Australia XI vs South Australia, 22 October 2015*
Elimination Final, 23 October 2015 (d/n)*
Blacktown International Sportspark
Victoria vs Queensland, 9 October 2015 (d/n)*
Western Australia vs NSW, 10 October 2015 (d/n)*
Victoria vs Western Australia, 12 October 2015*
South Australia vs Tasmania, 14 October 2015*
Bankstown Oval
NSW vs Cricket Australia XI, 5 October 2015
Cricket Australia XI vs Tasmania, 10 October 2015
Victoria vs South Australia, 16 October 2015
Western Australia vs Queensland, 21 October 2015
Hurstville Oval
South Australia vs Western Australia, 5 October 2015
Cricket Australia XI vs Victoria, 7 October 2015
Tasmania vs NSW, 12 October 2015