South Australia keep steady squad

A year after giving their squad a significant overhaul, South Australia have kept a steady course for 2009-10 with few changes to their playing group. The fast bowlers Chris Duval and Matthew Weeks have been added to the senior squad, while the opening batsman Tom Plant has been axed.

Weeks, 26, returned to South Australia's starting line-up last summer after a three-year absence. Duval is the only addition from outside the state, returning to his original side having spent the past four seasons with Tasmania.

The Redbacks now have three Cricket Australia-contracted players with Graham Manou and Callum Ferguson joining Shaun Tait on the national list. That opened up places for James Smith and Jake Haberfield to be promoted from the state's rookie list and both now hold full deals.

The rookie list has taken on a new look with only Michael Cranmer, Cameron Francis and Kane Richardson named at this stage. Of last season's rookies, Jake Brown, Andy Delmont and Jason Donnelly have slipped out of the group.

None of the changes are major and it is a far cry from South Australia's off-field dealings last year, when they raided four players from New South Wales and Victoria in addition to signing Pakistan's Younis Khan. All states must finalise their round one offers by next Friday prior to the player transfer pool opening.

South Australia squad Cullen Bailey, Cameron Borgas, Daniel Christian, Mark Cleary, Tom Cooper, Mark Cosgrove, Dan Cullen, Chris Duval, Callum Ferguson (Cricket Australia contract), Peter George, Jake Haberfield, Daniel Harris, Michael Klinger, Graham Manou (CA), Aaron O'Brien, Gary Putland, Paul Rofe, James Smith, Shaun Tait (CA), Matthew Weeks, Allan Wise.

Rookies Michael Cranmer, Cameron Francis, Kane Richardson.