AUSTRALIAN Test stars Nathan Lyon and Chris Rogers are among the big names still in line to play Sheffield Shield cricket at Robertson Oval, Wagga next month.
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NSW will host Victoria in a rare Sheffield Shield match in the city from February 15-18, but yesterday’s announcement of the Australian Cricket World Cup squad paves the way for Lyon to return to Riverina cricket.
The Young born and raised spinner wasn’t named in the 15-man squad, and will be available for selection for the Blues.
As expected, Rogers also wasn’t among the names announced yesterday and will be free to play for Victoria.
Rogers has a strong tie to the region, with his uncle Derek Rogers a renowned cricketer in the Riverina before his untimely death.
Wagga’s Sheffield Shield match starts on the opening weekend of the Cricket World Cup.
NSW and Victoria players dominate the squad, with 10 of the 15 players selected for the two states, but there are still plenty of stars available for selections.
Wagga will miss out on the chance to see young NSW quicks Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, after all three were named in Australian team, however former Test players Doug Bollinger and Moises Henriques are expected to play in Wagga as is up and coming bowler Sean Abbott.
Test bowlers Peter Siddle and James Pattinson may also return to Sheffield Shield cricket for Victoria in time for the match.
Narrandera-born Dan Christian is another available to make a return to Riverina cricket, with Matthew Wade and Cameron White also in the Victorian system.
Wagga District Cricket Association president Eric Koetz believes the big name players will attract a good crowd.
“Guys that have been in the Test side or the one-day squad will be playing in the Shield game,” he said.
“There will be some decent cricketers there and will well worth coming down to look at.”
Koetz believes hosting traditional rivals NSW and Victoria is a big bonus for the city.
“If you had to pick two sides to play in Wagga, you couldn’t have got two better ones,” Koetz said.
“They are the two biggest states, there is a rivalry between NSW and Victoria and at the moment the bulk of the Test and one-day players are coming out of those two states.”
Victoria currently sit on top of the Sheffield Shield ladder, and the competition will resume on February.
Defending champions NSW are currently fourth, with two wins and two losses.
The match will be both states’ second since the return.
Robertson Oval has recently been top dressed and Koetz believes this week’s rain should leave the ground in perfect order.
