Victoria lose Harwood and Mash

Watson returns for Queensland

Cricinfo staff

November 15, 2007

Shane Watson hasn't played domestic cricket for a while, but that's set to change this Sunday © Getty Images

Shane Watson will play his first Pura Cup match of the season for Queensland against Victoria as part of his return from a hamstring injury. Watson will play solely as a batsman at the Gabba from Sunday as he continues his comeback.

In a further boost, the captain Jimmy Maher and the fast bowler Ashley Noffke have been named to make their returns from the injuries that ruled them out of Queensland's upset FR Cup win against WA in Perth on Wednesday. Maher had injured his hamstring and Noffke his groin.

Noffke's return forces out the one-day debutant hero Chris Swan from the Queensland 12 while Martin Love, who played in the Pura Cup game in Perth, was not considered due to soreness in the knee he had reconstructed earlier this year. Love will have scans and be reassessed next week as to whether he will be available for the Pura Cup clash with the South Australia at the Gabba from November 30.

Victoria will be without their injury-prone fast bowler Shane Harwood due to a groin strain. Harwood suffered the problem during the last match against Tasmania and he will be joined on the sidelines by Lloyd Mash, who has a hand injury.

The Bushrangers have chosen two fast bowlers to replace the pair in the 12-man squad, with Clint McKay recalled and Dirk Nannes included after recovering from ankle tendonitis. Cameron White, the Victoria captain, said his attack had become used to filling gaps after all their contracted fast bowlers were injured at one point last season.

"We've shown over the last couple of years that our bowlers who aren't in the team can come in and do a really good job for us," White told AAP. "[Injuries are] not such a big worry for us."

Queensland squad Jimmy Maher (capt), Ryan Broad, Shane Watson, Clinton Perren, Aaron Nye, Chris Simpson, James Hopes, Chris Hartley (wk), Ashley Noffke, Andy Bichel, Grant Sullivan, Daniel Doran.

Victoria squad Nick Jewell, Robert Quiney, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Cameron White (capt), Andrew McDonald, Matthew Wade (wk), Gerard Denton, Clint McKay, Bryce McGain, Dirk Nannes, Allan Wise.

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