Katich to lead Blues against Tasmania

Simon Katich will lead the New South Wales Blues for the Pura Cup encounter against the low-placed Tasmanian Tigers at Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday. The Blues are two points below Queensland in the Pura Cup standings, but a victory here could see them move to first place.

NSW have won their last three games by an innings, of which the last one was the most spectacular. Nathan Bracken cut through South Australia's first innings to take seven wickets and dismiss them for 29, after which Phil Jaques hit 217 to ensure the Blues batted only once.

NSW squad Simon Katich (capt), Doug Bollinger, Nathan Bracken, Stuark Clark, Phil Jaques, Brad Haddin, Jason Krejza, Greg Mail, Stuart MacGill, Matthew Nicholson, Matthew Phelps, Dominic Thornely.