Australian Duo Headline Shield Squad For Queensland

The duo featured during Australia’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign in India and Sri Lanka last month.

Inglis’ sole appearance in the Sheffield Shield side this season to date also came in a one-wicket win over Queensland at the WACA Ground last November, while Connolly last featured in the drawn match against South Australia at the Adelaide Oval in November.

Connolly scored important half-centuries in both matches against South Australia earlier this season.

Fellow batter Hilton Cartwright also returns to the 13-player squad, having missed the side’s previous match against Victoria with a hamstring injury.

WA could also welcome back fast bowling duo Matt Kelly and Joel Paris, who both made successful returns from injury in the One-Day Cup game against Victoria last month.

Kelly was a standout performer earlier this season for WA, taking 21 wickets at 19.33 in the first four matches of the campaign, while Paris’ lone outing was in the opening game of the season against New South Wales.

Fellow quick Jhye Richardson will miss the match under Cricket Australia’s management plan.

Richardson made an encouraging return to the Sheffield Shield last month, taking six wickets in his two outings against Tasmania and Victoria.

Allrounder Kade Povey, who made his debut in the previous match against Victoria, will miss the match with split webbing, while Ashton Turner, Teague Wyllie and Joel Curtis have been omitted.

While a spot in the Sheffield Shield final is out of reach, WA will be out to improve its ladder position over the final two games of 2025-2026 and avoid finishing in sixth spot.

WA sits on 17.19 points, 10.64 points behind fifth-placed New South Wales, who they will meet at Cricket Central in the final match of the Sheffield Shield season from March 14-17.

Fast bowler Cameron Gannon has been a standout performer for WA this season, taking 32 wickets at 26.37 apiece.

The 37-year-old remains on track to eclipse his season best 38 wickets he took in season 2019-2020 when playing for Queensland.

Opening batter Cameron Bancroft (521 runs) remains a chance to finish 2025-2026 as the Sheffield Shield’s leading run scorer.

The right-hander is just 58 runs adrift of Peter Handscomb, who currently sits atop the standings.

Bancroft is also just 75 runs shy of 7,500 Sheffield Shield runs, while fellow opening batter and captain Sam Whiteman is just 40 runs away from 6,000 Sheffield Shield runs.

WA Squad for the Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland: Sam Whiteman (C), Cameron Bancroft , Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Albert Esterhuysen, Sam Fanning, Cameron Gannon, Jayden Goodwin, Josh Inglis, Matt Kelly, Joel Paris, Corey Rocchiccioli

MATCH DETAILS

Sheffield Shield – Game Nine
Queensland V Western Australia
Thursday 5 March – Sunday 8 March. First ball 8:00AM, WST.
Allan Border Field, Brisbane
LIVE: Kayo, Cricket.com.au, 91.3 SportFM