Reardon replaces injured Simpson

Nathan Reardon, the 20-year-old allrounder, has been catapulted into Queensland's ING Cup season opener against New South Wales on Friday following an injury to Chris Simpson. Simpson was named in both the one-day and four-day squads yesterday, but was ruled out this morning with a side strain that prevented him from batting at the weekend.

"We were confident that Chris was going to be right but following discussions with the medical staff it was felt it would be an unnecessary risk this early in the season,'' Ray Phillips, the chairman of selectors, said. Reardon, a rookie-contracted player, is expected to make his debut as the side's super sub as the competition adopts the ICC's one-day rules for the first time.

A left-handed batsman and right-arm medium-pace bowler, Reardon has enjoyed a successful off-season that has included impressive performances on tour for the Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence in India and Sri Lanka.

Queensland ING Cup squad
1 Jimmy Maher (capt), 2 James Hopes, 3 Andrew Symonds, 4 Clinton Perren, 5 Brendan Nash, 6 Chris Simpson, 7 Chris Hartley (wk), 8 Andy Bichel, 9 Nathan Hauritz, 10 Mitchell Johnson, 11 Michael Kasprowicz, 12 Nathan Reardon.

New South Wales
1 Phil Jaques, 2 Matthew Phelps, 3 Dominic Thornely, 4 Corey Richards, 5 Ed Cowan, 6 James Packman, 7 Brad Haddin (capt, wk), 8 Aaron O'Brien, 9 Matthew Nicholson, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Doug Bollinger, 12 Stuart Clark.