Promising opener Nic Maddinson has been given the chance to further press his claims for Australian selection after being named in NSW’s squad to be led by national skipper Michael Clarke in their first two fixtures of the new season.

Simon Katich, Phil Jacques, Usman Khawaja and Phil Hughes are no longer part of the NSW set-up and David Warner and Shane Watson are away with the Australian Twenty20 World Cup squad in Sri Lanka.

So the path has been cleared for Maddinson to showcase his wares to national selectors in NSW’s Sheffield Shield and domestic one-day matches against Western Australia starting on Sunday.

The youngest player to score a hundred on debut for NSW, Maddinson is considered a future Australian opener.

But since he struck 113 in his opening Shield match against South Australia in 2010, his development has been hampered somewhat by the wealth of talent in the NSW team.

But the 20-year-old now has his chance to change that with four top-order batsmen leaving NSW.

Khawaja has moved to Queensland, Hughes to South Australia while Katich and Jacques have retired from the Australian first-class cricket.

Maddinson is yet to represent Australia but has played for Australia A.

With Australia’s opening combinations in all forms of the game unsettled, Maddinson could press for international honours soon if he continues his rise.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has been given the opportunity fight his way back into the Australia team with selection in both squads.

After a poor summer against India, Haddin opted out of Australia’s tour of the West Indies due to personal reasons.

NSW and WA start their season early as a number of their key players will be away on duty for the T20 World Cup and/or Champions League T20 duty with the Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers.

NSW will not play any games in October.

NSW one-day squad v WA, WACA, Sept 16: Michael Clarke (capt), Sean Abbott, Doug Bollinger, Trent Copeland, Brad Haddin, Moises Henriques, Scott Henry, Josh Lalor, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Steve O’Keefe, Steve Smith, Chris Tremain.

NSW Sheffield Shield squad v WA, WACA, Sept 18-21: Michael Clarke (capt), Doug Bollinger, Trent Copeland, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Scott Henry, Daniel Hughes, Josh Lalor, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Steve O’Keefe, Steve Smith.