Cricket

Australian Test captain Pat Cummins is preparing for the upcoming series against India by considering a brief return to the Sheffield Shield. Cummins, who recently completed a stint in the USA, has been rested from Australia's white-ball tour of Scotland and England next month.Cummins' focus is on building strength and conditioning ahead of the home summer, which includes five Tests against India starting in late November. These Tests will be crucial in determining Australia's chances of defending their World Test Championship title at Lord's next June.Cummins last played Sheffield Shield for New South Wales in February 2021 and has only made nine appearances in his career. He is considering playing two or three ODIs against Pakistan in early November, followed by a Shield game or NSW one-day matches.New South Wales has a Shield game against Victoria from October 20 and Queensland from November 1, although the latter overlaps with the start of the ODI series against Pakistan. Cummins' fellow fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood could also be available for New South Wales ahead of the international season.Most of the Australian batters are expected to be available for the Sheffield Shield in October, while those not involved in the ODI series against Pakistan could get another outing. There are also two Australia A four-day matches against India A in Mackay and Melbourne.Cummins' return to the Sheffield Shield will provide him with valuable match practice ahead of the crucial Test series against India. The series will be a major test for Australia, who are currently second in the World Test Championship table behind India.

Adam Zampa, Australia's premier white-ball spinner, remains optimistic about his chances of donning the baggy green despite a limited first-class cricket presence in recent years. Zampa's aspirations were dashed last year when he was overlooked for the Test tour of India in favor of Mitchell Swepson.Despite playing only two first-class matches since 2019, Zampa believes his current form would translate well to the Test arena. "If I was playing a lot of Shield cricket right now, I think I'd be doing really well," he asserted. "The few games I have played in the last couple of years are suggestive of that."While Australia typically fields only one spinner in home Tests, the upcoming two-Test series in Sri Lanka presents an opportunity for Zampa to showcase his skills alongside Nathan Lyon. The summer schedule also offers a potential window for Sheffield Shield appearances.However, Zampa acknowledges that first-class performances are not the sole determinant for Test selection. He is confident in his ability to adapt to the subcontinent conditions, even if his first-class average of 46.98 raises concerns. "If I do get picked, I'll know that the way I feel like I'm bowling, it'll be fine," he stated.Zampa's international future may or may not include Test cricket, but he has made it clear that representing Australia remains his top priority. He has withdrawn from lucrative franchise tournaments to focus on national duty, signing a two-year central contract with Cricket Australia.Currently playing for Oval Invincibles in the Hundred, Zampa is the tournament's joint-leading wicket-taker. He acknowledges the tournament's compatibility with his lifestyle and the upcoming Australia tour of the UK. However, he emphasizes his desire to limit extended periods away from home outside of international commitments.Zampa, who has over 100 T20I wickets to his name, will next represent Australia in a series of T20Is against Scotland and England, followed by ODIs against England.

Ryan Harris, a former Australian fast bowler, has been appointed as the new head coach of South Australia's men's cricket team. Harris, who played for South Australia during his playing career, has been serving as the interim head coach since Jason Gillespie's departure earlier this year.Harris' appointment comes after a thorough recruitment process, and he will take over the role full-time immediately as the team prepares for the upcoming season. The decision to split the head coach role for the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL) has not yet been confirmed, but it is understood that this is becoming increasingly likely.Harris expressed his excitement and honor at being appointed as the head coach of South Australia, where he began his first-class playing career over two decades ago. He believes that the team has the potential to achieve great things and is eager to build on the progress made last season.Under the leadership of new captain Nathan McSweeney, the South Australian team has developed a strong sense of self-belief. Harris plans to work closely with the players to ensure that they are well-prepared for the upcoming season.South Australia finished fifth in the Sheffield Shield last season, an improvement from their fourth-place finish in 2022-23. However, they finished bottom in the Marsh Cup after reaching the final the previous season.Harris brings a wealth of coaching experience to the role. After retiring from playing, he worked with the Australia men's under-19 team at the 2018 and 2020 World Cups. He has also worked in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Capitals. Additionally, he had stints as a consultant with the Australian men's team while Justin Langer was coach.In 2021, Harris was appointed as Queensland Cricket's pathway manager. He applied to be the head coach of Australia Women when Matthew Mott left, having had a short-term stint as bowling coach on a tour of New Zealand in 2021. However, he was overlooked for the role and returned to South Australia as their bowling coach.

Australia's multi-format stars will have their most extensive red-ball preparation for a summer in five years, with up to four Sheffield Shield matches to hone their skills before the Test series against India.Cricket Australia's domestic summer schedule, announced on Thursday, includes a new women's T20 competition before the WBBL. The Sheffield Shield and men's one-day cup will each feature seven matches, as in recent seasons.However, for the first time in a while, multi-format players will have a prolonged stretch of Shield games to prepare for the Test team's bid to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Australia's last overseas white-ball commitment this year is on September 29 in England, giving players a week before the Shield season begins on October 8. Even if fast bowlers are rested from the first round, each state will play three more fixtures before players enter camp for the first Test against India starting November 22.Pat Cummins is skipping the entire limited-overs tour of the UK in September, while Mitchell Starc will only play in the ODI series against England. Josh Hazlewood is included in both formats.While Starc played for NSW during the 2020-21 bubble, Cummins and Hazlewood have not played Shield before the first Test since November 2019. Mitchell Marsh has only played two Shield matches since 2019.The availability of multi-format players for the Shield may be affected by Pakistan's limited-overs tour, with the ODI series starting on November 4. The proximity of the T20Is (November 14-18) to the start of the India series means only players not featuring in the Test will likely be selected.The glut of Shield matches will also provide opportunities for Matt Renshaw, Marcus Harris, and Cameron Bancroft to push their selection claims.While Australia's Test team is largely settled, they may consider taking a reserve batsman into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Chief selector George Bailey said in March that there was no longer a clear frontrunner to replace Steven Smith or Usman Khawaja at the top of the order, after Renshaw, Harris, and Bancroft missed out on national contracts.Bailey has indicated that a specialist opener will eventually replace Smith or Khawaja in the long term, after Smith moved into the role to replace David Warner last summer.Six Shield rounds will be played before the BBL break, followed by four more matches for each state in February and March. Shield fixtures will again be interwoven with the one-day cup, which starts on September 22, with Western Australia aiming for a fourth consecutive title in both competitions.The Shield final will take place between March 26-30, while the 50-over finals will be held on consecutive days - the Marsh Cup on March 1 and WNCL on March 2.The 50-over WNCL tournament, where Tasmania is bidding for a hat-trick of titles, again has 12 matches per team, while the newly introduced T20 series for women includes four games each due to the shortened WBBL.Each of the eight WBBL teams will participate, as well as the ACT Meteors, with the tournament running while Australia's big-name players and overseas stars are in Bangladesh for the T20 World Cup.

Tasmanian offspinner Jarrod Freeman has taken an indefinite break from cricket to prioritize his mental well-being. The 23-year-old has been a mainstay in Tasmania's Sheffield Shield team for the past two seasons, claiming 40 wickets at an average of 46.00. He played a pivotal role in the team's run to the final in the 2023-24 campaign.Freeman's decision to step away from the game highlights the growing awareness of mental health issues in professional sports. Cricket Tasmania has expressed its support for Freeman during this challenging time, emphasizing the importance of mental well-being. The organization hopes to see him return to cricket in the future.Tasmania has taken steps to bolster its spin bowling resources in the off-season, signing Test left-armer Matt Kuhnemann from Queensland and Australia Under-19 offspinner Raf MacMillan on a rookie contract. Kuhnemann, who was recently on standby for Australia's T20 World Cup squad, has moved states to gain more red-ball experience. He has only played four first-class matches since featuring in the Test series against India early last year.Legspinner Mitchell Swepson was Queensland's primary spin option in the Sheffield Shield last season, but the pair played together as a key part of Brisbane Heat's BBL title-winning side. Kuhnemann will remain with Heat for the 2024-25 season.Cricket Tasmania continues to prioritize mental health training and education for its athletes, recognizing the challenges they face throughout their careers. The organization's support for Freeman serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing mental well-being in the sporting world.

Tasmania's cricket team has undergone a significant overhaul, with the signing of Test spinner Matthew Kuhnemann and Under-19 World Cup winner Raf MacMillan. The recruitment drive has resulted in the omission of Paddy Dooley from the Tigers' contract list.Dooley, who joined Tasmania from Queensland last season, played seven Marsh Cup games and claimed nine wickets. However, the arrival of Kuhnemann, who has represented Australia in Tests and ODIs, has made Dooley expendable.MacMillan, a 19-year-old off-spinner, impressed in the Under-19 World Cup, taking wickets in every game and contributing with the bat. He joins Tasmania from New South Wales.The Tigers have also signed young fast bowler Will Prestwidge from Queensland. Prestwidge made his List A debut last season and showed promise with both bat and ball.Tasmania coach Jeff Vaughan expressed satisfaction with the new recruits, stating that they will help the team improve upon last season's Sheffield Shield final loss."We took a massive step forward as a program last year with some big changes to our squad," Vaughan said. "We are confident the quality of players we are bringing into our squad will help us go to the next level."Tasmania's contract list for the 2024-25 season includes:* Gabe Bell* Iain Carlisle* Nick Davis (rookie)* Jake Doran* Kieran Elliot* Jarrod Freeman* Bradley Hope* Caleb Jewell* Matt Kuhnemann* Raf MacMillan (rookie)* Riley Meredith* Lawrence Neil-Smith* Aidan O'Connor (rookie)* Mitch Owen* Will Prestwidge* Nivethan Radhakrishnan (rookie)* Jordan Silk* Billy Stanlake* Charlie Wakim* Tim Ward* Jake Weatherald* Beau Webster* Mac Wright

Kent County Cricket Club has bolstered its bowling attack with the signing of Australian seamer Charlie Stobo as overseas cover for Wes Agar, Xavier Bartlett, and Beyers Swanepoel. The 29-year-old Stobo, who has a proven track record in the Sheffield Shield with Western Australia, has inked a deal that runs from May 20 to September 16, encompassing all formats of the game.Stobo's arrival comes amidst a shortage of fast-bowling options for Kent. The club was dealt a blow when Cricket Australia altered the conditions of Bartlett's No-Objection Certificate, preventing him from participating in the County Championship. To address this, Kent has already secured the services of South African seamer Swanepoel, who is set to join the squad for their Championship match against Lancashire on Friday.Stobo, despite being uncapped at international level and lacking T20 experience, qualifies to play professionally in the UK due to an ancestry visa. His signing is a testament to Kent's proactive approach to player recruitment, as they seek to navigate the challenges posed by the ECB's new regulations allowing counties to register up to four overseas players simultaneously.Simon Cook, Kent's director of cricket, expressed his delight at Stobo's acquisition. "We've been monitoring Charlie for some time now, and we're thrilled to have him on board for a significant portion of our season," Cook said. "We believe he possesses the attributes to succeed at Canterbury and will enhance our squad depth, enabling us to rotate players, particularly bowlers, to optimize their workloads and maximize their potential."Stobo, for his part, is eager to join his fellow Australians at Kent. "I'm excited to connect with some familiar faces, contribute to the Aussie presence with Wes Agar and Xavier Bartlett, and be part of a talented squad," Stobo said. "I'm grateful for this opportunity to play for Kent, which presents a new and exciting challenge for me."Both Stobo and Swanepoel will be available for Kent's Metro Bank Cup campaign, which commences in late July. Their signings underscore Kent's determination to compete on all fronts this season, as they aim to build on their recent successes in the County Championship and Vitality Blast.

Matthew Kuhnemann, the 27-year-old left-arm finger spinner, has joined Tasmania in a bid to secure regular red-ball game time ahead of Australia's tour of Sri Lanka next summer. Kuhnemann, who has played three Tests for Australia, was overlooked by his home state Queensland last season and has made the move south to become Tasmania's No.1 Shield spinner.Kuhnemann has 20 first-class matches under his belt and impressed during his three Tests in India earlier this year, taking 5 for 16 in his second Test to help Australia beat the hosts at Indore. He will be eyeing a spot in Australia's Test squad for their tour of Sri Lanka in February, after a summer series on home soil against India.Kuhnemann's move to Tasmania is a significant boost for the Tigers, who lost to Western Australia in March's Sheffield Shield final. Jarrod Freeman was their first-choice spinner last season, but Kuhnemann's experience and quality will provide Tasmania with a different option.Kuhnemann will also be available for 50-over selection for Tasmania and remains contracted to the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League. Tasmania's high-performance manager Salliann Beams said: "We are excited to have a player of Matt's calibre join the Tigers and believe he will play a key role for us in the white-ball format of the game."In addition to Kuhnemann, Tasmania has also signed 22-year-old Queensland quick Will Prestwidge, who played two one-day games for the Bulls across three summers. These signings will bolster Tasmania's squad and give them a strong chance of challenging for silverware in the upcoming season.

Matthew Kuhnemann, a left-arm orthodox spinner, has left Queensland and is set to join Tasmania in pursuit of more first-class cricket opportunities. This move aims to enhance his chances of selection for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, former Test opener Joe Burns has been omitted from Queensland's contract list following a disappointing season.Kuhnemann, 27, made his Test debut for Australia last year in India, claiming 5 for 16 in Australia's only victory in Indore. However, since then, he has not featured in a single Sheffield Shield match for Queensland. The Bulls have preferred legspinner Mitchell Swepson as their primary spinner, leaving Kuhnemann with limited opportunities.In Tasmania, Kuhnemann is expected to become the team's leading spinner in both Shield and Marsh Cup cricket. He will bolster Tasmania's attack, which narrowly missed out on winning the Shield title last season. Kuhnemann remains contracted to play for the Brisbane Heat in the BBL for the next two seasons.Burns, on the other hand, has been left out of Queensland's contract after being dropped from both the Shield and Marsh Cup sides last summer. His Shield omission came as a surprise, given his strong performances earlier in the season. Despite being the Bulls' leading run-scorer through the first seven games, Queensland opted to promote younger batters in the second half of the season.Queensland has decided not to offer the 34-year-old Burns a contract. He has played 23 Tests for Australia and scored four Test centuries. He is also out of contract at the Melbourne Stars.The Bulls have instead promoted opener Angus Lovell onto the contract list after his Shield debut last summer. Queensland has also signed four of Australia's Under-19 World Cup winners for next season, including captain Hugh Weibgen and promising quick Callum Vidler.Queensland is still searching for a new coach after parting ways with Wade Seccombe last month.