Wicketkeeper Nevill in line for Blues debut

New South Wales have axed their wicketkeeper Daniel Smith as part of a raft of changes to their FR Cup squad for Saturday's match against Tasmania in Sydney. Peter Nevill will make his state debut behind the stumps and the 12-man squad also features Nathan Bracken, who has been missing due to a hamstring injury.

The middle-order batsman Ben Rohrer is also in line for his one-day debut 18 months after playing his only two first-class matches for the state. The other inclusion is Ed Cowan, who was a late call-up into the Sheffield Shield squad this week following the unexpected death of the father of the batsman Peter Forrest.

Forrest was not considered for the one-day game at Hurstville Oval, while Usman Khawaja, Steve O'Keefe and Smith were dropped. The most notable exclusion was that of Smith, who was Brad Haddin's backup gloveman for several seasons but has struggled to have an impact with the bat since Haddin's promotion to Test duties.

The call-up has vindicated the move north for Nevill, 23, who switched from Victoria to New South Wales during the off-season. Nevill was Victoria's second wicketkeeper two seasons ago but he slipped in the pecking order when Matthew Wade shifted from Tasmania and began sharing the duties with Adam Crosthwaite.

The match will be the first New South Wales fixture ever held at Hurstville Oval, the home ground of the St George Cricket Club. Don Bradman and Bill O'Reilly both played at the venue during their time with the club, while the current crop of St George cricketers includes the allrounder Moises Henriques.

New South Wales squad Phillip Hughes, Ed Cowan, David Warner, Ben Rohrer, Steven Smith, Dominic Thornely (capt), Moises Henriques, Peter Nevill (wk), Nathan Hauritz, Aaron Bird, Nathan Bracken, Doug Bollinger.