Khawaja injured, Blues call on Trent Copeland

The uncapped fast bowler Trent Copeland could be in line for his state debut after New South Wales chose him in a 12-man squad for the Sheffield Shield game against Queensland at the SCG starting on Friday. Copeland was called in due to the absence of Josh Hazlewood, who is with the Under-19 World Cup squad, and Nathan Bracken, who is making a steady return from knee surgery.

Bracken played in the Blues' FR Cup loss to South Australia on Tuesday but is being given more time to prepare for a comeback to the more demanding four-day game. It has opened the door for Copeland, 23, to come in from outside the contracted squad having been the leading wicket-taker in the Sydney grade competition this summer.

The Blues will also be without Usman Khawaja, their leading run scorer in the Sheffield Shield this season, after he was ruled out with a hairline fracture of the thumb. Khawaja suffered the problem while fielding in a grade match on Saturday and is expected to be out of action for three weeks.

Simon Katich, who is set to play his first Sheffield Shield game since November, will take back the captaincy duties from Moises Henriques. Peter Forrest has replaced the omitted Ben Rohrer for a game that gives New South Wales the chance to lift themselves off the bottom of the table.

New South Wales squad Phillip Hughes, Phil Jaques, Simon Katich (capt), Steven Smith, Peter Forrest, David Warner, Moises Henriques, Daniel Smith (wk), Grant Lambert, Steve O'Keefe, Mitchell Starc, Trent Copeland.

Queensland squad Ryan Broad, Nick Kruger, Wade Townsend, Lee Carseldine, Glen Batticciotto, Chris Simpson (capt), Chris Hartley (wk), Chris Swan, Ben Cutting, Luke Feldman, Cameron Boyce, Scott Walter.