GEORGE Town and Australian under-23 paceman Gabe Bell will make his Tasmanian Sheffield Shield debut against South Australia at Bellerive Oval on Thursday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Tigers have made four changes leading into their final four-day match with opening batsman Jake Hancock and bowler Cameron Stevenson dropped and James Faulkner left out with knee soreness from the squad that lost heavily to Queensland last week.
Interim coach Richard Allanby said Caleb Jewell would open the batting with Alex Doolan and Jordan Silk would get his chance at first drop having made 161 in the Futures League last week.
Bell, 21, and Hamish Kingston will lead the bowling attack along with the in-form Simon Milenko and Sam Rainbird.
Andrew Perrin is likely to be named 12th man.
“There is a little bit at stake because we don’t want a repeat performance like we put out against Queensland,” Allanby said.
“[This is] the last opportunity for some players to put their hands up and say you know, ‘I want to play for Tasmania and stay in this cricket team’.”
Bell, a former Launceston Church Grammar student, said he was excited to finally represent the state at the highest level after four seasons in the squad.
“The goal was to play a game and it has finally come,” he said.
“There will definitely be a few nerves, I always get nervous before big games whether it be club games or Futures League cricket.”
Tasmanian chairman of selectors Michael Farrell said he is hoping for a positive finish to what has largely been a disappointing first-class season.
The Tigers sacked coach Dan Marsh last month and have only managed one win and three draws from nine matches. The match starts at 10.30am.
In other news, Tasmanian WNCL and Hobart Hurricanes wicket-keeper-batsman Georgia Redmayne has earned a spot in the 13-player Shooting Stars squad for the upcoming limited overs tour of Sri Lanka.
Redmayne created history for the Roar this season, becoming the first female Tasmanian to score a century.
“I am really excited about the challenges the Sri Lankan matches will present and also the opportunity to play with other cricketers from around the country,” Redmayne said.
TIGERS SQUAD
George Bailey (c), Gabe Bell, Alex Doolan, Caleb Jewell, Hamish Kingston, Ben McDermott, Simon Milenko, Tim Paine, Andrew Perrin, Sam Rainbird, Jordan Silk, Beau Webster.