Deposed Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin is a late withdrawal from NSW’s star-studded Sheffield Shield team to play Queensland from Friday.
Haddin has been ruled out of the match at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field with a thumb injury he sustained during the Sydney Sixers’ drive to the Champions League Twenty20 title in South Africa.
A hand specialist diagnosed residual swelling and an infection and the 35-year-old gloveman has been stood down for at least a week to recover.
Peter Nevill, who had been named as a specialist batsman, will now keep wickets for the Blues while David Dawson comes into the squad as the likely 12th man.
It continues an up-and-down week for Haddin after being left out of the Australian Test side by the national selection panel who retained youngster Matthew Wade as wicketkeeper.
NSW still boast a strong line-up with Test captain Michael Clarke, allrounder Shane Watson, explosive opener David Warner and left-arm quick Mitchell Starc all playing ahead of next week’s first Test against South Africa at the Gabba.
NSW have been allowed to name provisional fourth-day replacements for the quartet who will be granted an early leave from the Shield match to prepare for the Test.
Steve Smith and Moises Henriques, playing for Australia A in the three-day tour match against the Proteas at the SCG this weekend, are on standby to replace Clarke and Watson while Sean Abbott has been named as Starc’s replacement and the 12th man will cover Warner.
Cricket Australia will decide after day three’s play on Sunday night whether to activate the replacements.
Boom quick Pat Cummins was not considered due to ongoing assessment of scans on a back injury.