Cricket: Starc and Smith set for Shield outing

The 2024/25 Sheffield Shield season will continue this weekend with three matches set to get underway on Sunday.

It is set to be an exciting round of matches, with some big names on show as they fine tune their game ahead of a hectic summer for the Australian Test side.

Victoria will clash with arch rivals New South Wales, Queensland entertain South Australia, while Western Australia play Tasmania.

All three of the opening fixtures to the season ended in a draw, so hopefully we will get some results in these matches.

Star duo to feature for NSW

New South Wales have been handed a boost with the news that star duo Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith will feature against Victoria at the MCG.

With a Test series against India on the horizon, the match will be an opportunity for Starc and Smith to get in some valuable preparation.

The duo will be joined by Nathan Lyon, who starred in the opening draw against South Australia.

Lyon took 5-47 and 3-94 and will look to carry that form into the Victoria clash.

Sam Konstas is also a player to keep an eye on after scoring twin centuries in the draw with South Australia.

Victoria also drew with Tasmania in their opening game, with Marcus Harris named player of the match.

Harris scored 143 runs in the first innings and followed that up with 52 in the second.

Marsh set to bowl for WA

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has revealed he will ease his way back into some bowling when WA take on Tasmania at the WACA.

The 33-year-old has hardly bowled since suffering a hamstring injury in the IPL, but with fellow west Aussie Cameron Green ruled out of the Test summer, he could be needed.

With that in mind, Marsh will bowl against Tasmania, but will not go mad.

Marsh did star with the bat in the draw with Queensland at the WACA, scoring 94 runs as a specialised batter in the second innings.

Tasmania relied on their middle to lower order in the draw with Victoria. Beau Webster scored 113 runs, Bradley Hope 111, as the declared on 527-9.

Queensland have to edge

Queensland will be out to make it three wins from four against South Australia, when they meet in the Sheffield Shield.

In tbe last meeting back in February, Queensland won by seven wickets, while South Australia won a tight one by three runs when they met in November 2023.

Marnus Labuschagne scored 77 runs in the first innings against WA, and followed that up with 35 not-out in the second as the match ended in a draw.

With Usman Khawaja also in the side, Queensland are well placed to put on some big runs against South Australia.

Nathan McSweeney and Alex Carey saved the match for South Australia as they drew with NSW.

Captain McSweeney finished on 127 not out, while Carey also made 111.