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Bulls blood another McDermott in Shield

30th October, 2014
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Queensland will toss Ben McDermott into the deep end on his first-class debut, pitching the 19-year-old into a pivotal batting spot against South Australia in their Sheffield Shield match.

McDermott, the youngest son of ex-Test paceman Craig McDermott, will bat at No.3 in the Adelaide Oval fixture starting on Friday.

McDermott’s older brother Alister will also be in the Bulls team – the first set of siblings to play for Queensland since Ian and Ken Healy in the 1980s.

Queensland captain James Hopes says Ben McDermott will get an extended run at first drop given the three-week absence of batsman Usman Khawaja due to a broken finger.

“It’s a big ask for a 19-year-old to walk out and bat three in Shield cricket,” Hopes said on Thursday.

“He has got a good technique and what is most pleasing is he is going to have a couple of games to cement a spot, we’re not expecting Usman to come back until round three or four.”

The Bulls have half a dozen frontliners sidelined by injury and national duties, paving the way for the selection of McDermott, South African-born opening bat Marnus Labuschagne and 30-year-old legspinner Ryan Le Loux, who last played for the Bulls in 2006.

“It’s going to be a new-look team that we put out on the park tomorrow … but it’s a big opportunity for a couple of guys,” Hopes said.

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South Australia
Johan Botha (capt), Tom Cooper, Mark Cosgrove, Callum Ferguson, Travis Head, Tim Ludeman, Andrew McDonald, Joe Mennie, Gary Putland, Sam Raphael, Chadd Sayers, Adam Zampa (12th man to be named).

Queensland
James Hopes (capt), Joe Burns, Luke Feldman, Jason Floros, Peter Forrest, Peter George, Chris Hartley, Marnus Labuschagne, Ryan Le Loux, Ben McDermott, Alister McDermott, Nick Stevens (12th man to be named).

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