NSW all-rounder Stephen O'Keefe will captain the Blues for the first time on Sunday against Sri Lanka as several players are rested. Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Phil Jaques and Trent Copeland will all be rested to be replaced by Mark Cameron, Peter Nevill, Phillip Hughes and Tim Cruickshank.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Manly-Warringah batsman Cruickshank will make his debut for the Blues after impressing selectors in the past two seasons with his form in Second XI and grade cricket. The elegant right-hander scored 231 runs for the NSW Second XI last season in two matches at an average of 77. He also contributed 992 runs in grade cricket at an average of 39.68.
Sri Lanka will be in Australia for a short one day international series. Captain Kumar Sangakkara told Cricinfo the tour was crucial to his side's World Cup build-up. ''When you play sides as good as Australia, if there are any small weakness they are highlighted. It will be interesting to see how far we've come over the last 1½ years,'' he said. "Every tour has brought improvement.
Team to play Sri Lanka: Stephen O'Keefe (c), Sean Abbott, Mark Cameron, Tim Cruickshank, Scott Coyte, Peter Forrest, Philip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Brett Lee, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Ben Rohrer
