Monday 8 March 2010

Allrounder Nathan Reardon will get his chance to push his selection claims for next week’s Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield Final following his call-up today for the XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls.

Reardon will replace injured batsman Lee Carseldine (toe) for the Shield game starting on Wednesday against WA at the Gabba which will determine hosting rights for the first class decider between Queensland and Victoria.

Carseldine was struck on the foot in the first innings of the outright win over South Australia last week and with Queensland locking up a berth in the Final with that result, medical staff ordered him to miss the Warriors game in order to be fit for next week.

Reardon will vie for a spot in the squad to prepare for the Final, which could be boosted by the availability of Australian ODI duo James Hopes and Ryan Harris who are currently in New Zealand competing in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series.

The Shield Final will start next Wednesday March 17.

To host the Final, Queensland needs to beat WA outright and hope that Victoria does not collect any more than two points from its final round game against Tasmania in Melbourne.

The Bushrangers are currently three points ahead of the Bulls.

Victoria is the reigning Shield champion, after the Bulls drew with them in last year’s Final at the Junction Oval.

Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield

XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls v Retravision Warriors, Wed- Sat, the Gabba, 10am start daily:

Chris Simpson (c)

Cam Boyce

Ryan Broad

Ben Cutting

Luke Feldman

Chris Hartley

Chris Lynn

Craig Philipson

Nathan Reardon

Nathan Rimmington

Wade Townsend

Chris Swan

(12th man to be named)

Meanwhile the Warriors have named a 13-man squad for the match, with the notable asbentee being former Bulls star Ashley Noffke who has failed to overcome a knee injury.

However, ex-Queenslanders Steve Magoffin and Ben Edmondson will be making the trip.

Marcus North (c)

Nathan Coulter-Nile

Liam Davis

Ben Edmondson

Matt Johnson

Brad Knowles

Steve Magoffin

Mitch Marsh

Luke Pomersbach

Drew Porter

Wes Robinson

Luke Ronchi

Michael Swart

(one to be omitted, 12th man to be named)