Western Australia have welcomed back Cam Bancroft and Jayden Goodwin after illness ahead of their Sheffield Shield meeting with New South Wales at the WACA Ground on Monday.
The pair have been included in an expanded 14-man squad for the second match of the season, following a disrupted opening round in which illness spread through the WA camp.
Goodwin was withdrawn before the victory over Queensland and replaced by debutant Tom Murray. Murray then became ill before the second day, allowing Sam Whiteman to come into the side.
Bancroft played through WA’s two-wicket win over the Bulls, scoring 16 and nine, but missed Tuesday’s One-Day Cup defeat after falling ill. He has since recovered, as has Goodwin.
Bancroft is set to resume his unexpected opening partnership with Whiteman. Having only recently returned from a summer in England, Whiteman was drafted into the season opener and made 40 in the second innings.
Sam Fanning is the only omission from the squad after suffering a hamstring injury against Queensland. He batted through the problem on the fourth day as WA secured victory.
Corey Wasley has been added to the group. The uncapped 21-year-old, in his third season on the state’s rookie list, was the only batsman in the squad to play in WA Premier Cricket on Saturday, making 60 for Rockingham-Mandurah.
Captain Aaron Hardie is continuing his recovery from a knee issue which has restricted his all-round role. WA could therefore again select five specialist bowlers, as they did against Queensland.
Former WA seamer Bryce Jackson is not included in New South Wales’ squad for the Shield match and may have to wait until Saturday’s One-Day Cup fixture to face his former side. Jackson made his Shield debut for the Blues in a draw with Tasmania earlier this month, taking three first-innings wickets.
WA’s squad is Aaron Hardie, Cam Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright, Brody Couch, Joel Curtis, Kieran Elliott, Albert Esterhuysen, Jayden Goodwin, Liam Haskett, Joel Paris, Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Corey Wasley and Sam Whiteman.
