Queensland’s COVID-19 outbreak has left Tasmania without their most experienced paceman, Peter Siddle, for their final-round Marsh Sheffield Shield clash against Western Australia in Perth.
After being given time off last week, Siddle headed to the Gold Coast, but the interstate trip has ultimately cost him a place in the Tigers’ line-up for their WA showdown at the WACA Ground, which begins on Saturday.
In a press release, Cricket Tasmania said: “Siddle returned to Tasmania as soon as the news of the latest COVID outbreak in Brisbane surfaced, but unfortunately – despite the fact that he did not spend any time in the Greater Brisbane or Moreton Bay areas – he is now not permitted to enter Western Australia. Were the match being played in any other state, Siddle would be eligible for selection.”
The 36-year-old has taken 18 wickets in six Shield matches at 28.16 this summer, behind only Jackson Bird (30 in seven) among Tasmania’s bowling group, and while the Tigers are all but ruled out of a Shield final berth, they can still have a say in the way the season unfolds, with WA desperate for a win to sneak past either Queensland or New South Wales and into the top two.
Tasmania will also be without batter Ben McDermott and fast bowler Nathan Ellis, both of whom sustained injuries in the Tigers’ Marsh One-Day Cup match against NSW.
Hosts WA are coming off a resounding 247-run win against Victoria at the same venue, while when the sides last met in October, WA trio Shaun Marsh, Sam Whiteman and Cameron Bancroft all hit hundreds in a high-scoring draw.
Tasmania squad: Matthew Wade (c), Jackson Bird, Jake Doran, Jarrod Freeman, Caleb Jewell, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Tim Paine, Alex Pyecroft, Sam Rainbird, Jordan Silk, Charlie Wakim, Tim Ward, Beau Webster
WA squad: TBC