Australian selections hit Queensland hard

Queensland will rely on an inexperienced line-up to push them to a fourth FR Cup victory in a row when they encounter New South Wales in Brisbane on Wednesday. After beating South Australia last week, the Bulls have had their team cut down by representative calls and will miss Matthew Hayden, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Ashley Noffke and Andrew Symonds, who are preparing to face New Zealand this week.

The fringe fast bowlers Scott Brant, Chris Swan and Grant Sullivan were promoted and the batsman Nathan Reardon was also included. Michael Kasprowicz and Shane Watson will provide the side with much-needed nous while Jimmy Maher, the captain, has extra batting responsibility as his team tries to close the gap on the leaders Tasmania.

Both Watson and Kasprowicz showed strong patches of form on Wednesday after struggling with injury. Kasprowicz put Queensland on track for victory with 3 for 38 while Watson helped finish the match with 70. The Bulls are in second on 16 points, seven behind the Tigers.

New South Wales have made one change with Daniel Smith replacing Brad Haddin, who is also in Australia's Chappell-Hadlee squad. The Blues' match against South Australia at Wollongong on Sunday was abandoned without a ball being bowled and they have not won an FR Cup game since November last year.

Queensland squad Shane Watson, Jimmy Maher (capt), Clinton Perren, Aaron Nye, Craig Philipson, Nathan Reardon, Chris Simpson, Chris Hartley (wk), Michael Kasprowicz, Chris Swan, Scott Brant, Grant Sullivan.

New South Wales squad Phillip Hughes, Phil Jaques, Peter Forrest, Simon Katich (capt), Dominic Thornely, Steve Smith, Daniel Smith (wk), Moises Henriques, Nathan Hauritz, Matthew Nicholson, Mark Cameron, Doug Bollinger.