Test stars line up in Sheffield Shield

All six states will field star-studded Sheffield Shield sides on Tuesday, with a handful of batsmen aiming to make an impression in front of Test selectors.

Australia’s 12-man squad for the first Test, which starts on December 4, was announced on Monday.

However a batsman will take Michael Clarke’s spot in the XI if the captain is unable to prove he’s ready for the Gabba.

“We’re not naming anyone just yet. Whether or not we have one, that’s for us to know and you to find out and I’m not telling you,” chief selector Rod Marsh said.

Marsh noted there was a lack of depth when it came to Australian batsmen.

“It’d be nice to have 10 young batsmen vying for one spot, that would be nice,” he said.

“That’s not where it is at the moment. When you think about it, it probably never is there.”

With the exception of Clarke and rested pacemen Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Josh Hazlewood, Australia’s entire Test squad will play Shield games this week.

NSW host South Australia at the SCG, while Queensland take on Tasmania at Allan Border Field.

Shaun Marsh will play alongside brother Mitch when Western Australia face Victoria at the MCG.

The brothers’ hopes of playing a Test together could be granted sooner rather than later.

Shaun Marsh scored a 111 for the Warriors earlier this month, while an elbow injury forced him to miss the recent UAE tour.

South Australia opener Phillip Hughes, who toured the UAE and South Africa this year as a reserve batsman, is another on the cusp of the Test squad.

“He’s probably as unlucky as anyone has been over the last little bit. But his time will come and he’ll be better for it in my opinion,” Marsh said.

“He’s a very, very good young player … (he is) very close.”

Hughes’ state teammate Callum Ferguson has stated the Shield season with two centuries, while Tasmania’s Alex Doolan has slipped down the Test pecking order after being dropped in Abu Dhabi.

CLARKE’S POTENTIAL COVER:

ALEX DOOLAN

*Made a century in UAE tour game and yet to play a Test on home soil

*Scores of 16, 38, 18 and 8 in four first-class innings since returning from Abu Dhabi

*191 Test runs at 23.87

*3769 first-class runs at 36.24

SHAUN MARSH

*Made a Test century in South Africa earlier this year

*Still recovering from elbow surgery, but already fired with the bat this Shield season

*493 Test runs at 32.86

*5280 first-class runs at 35.91

PHILLIP HUGHES

*Had a productive 2013/14 Shield season and impressed with Australia A during winter

*Scores of 20, 69, 7 and 11 in four first-class inning since returning from Abu Dhabi

*1535 Test runs at 32.65

*8960 first-class runs at 46.18.

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