The ICC has been preparing a back-up pitch at The Oval for the World Test Championship final, as a precaution against the threat of potential disruptions by activists from Just Stop Oil. The move to prepare another pitch is to guard against a worst-case scenario and the strip that will be used for the Test, which begins on Wednesday, remains the same one which has been tended over the past few days.The move comes after a series of disruptions by Just Stop Oil activists, a coalition made up of environmental action groups fighting to raise awareness about climate change, at sporting events across UK over the last year. Premier League football, the World Snooker Championships and Premiership Rugby Union have all been affected.Last week the England men’s team bus, en route to Lord’s for the one-off Test against Ireland, was held up briefly on the first morning after being blocked by activists. On Monday morning, the Australia team bus was similarly delayed, stuck in traffic because of Just Stop Oil protests, as they headed to The Oval for training.The ICC has updated its playing conditions for the WTC final with a clause accounting for the use of another pitch in case the one in use is damaged, or is deemed dangerous. The initial step in the playing conditions is to see if the existing pitch can be repaired and the match to restart from the point it was stopped subject to the surface not affecting either team.In case the original pitch cannot be repaired a new pitch will come into play. Only if it is not possible to resume the match on that other pitch will the match then be abandoned and deemed a no-result.Both teams have been informed by the ICC of the development. “It’s something we got in the security briefing a couple days ago,” Pat Cummins, the Australian captain, said. “I’ve heard that they’re aware of it and kind of keep an eye out. But that’s as much as we’ve heard.”So hopefully, it doesn’t happen, obviously. But I’ve heard there’s a few different events that have been affected.”Cummins has been a vocal advocate on the climate and formed the Cricket for Climate group along with fellow Australian cricketers to reduce the sport’s carbon footprint. “First of all I have to say I haven’t really followed it at all, so I don’t really know what these protests are about, but my view is always there’s right ways to go about things and potentially not the right way to go about things,” Cummins said on what he thought of method used by Just Stop Oil protestors. “Whenever anyone’s got any beliefs, you just hope you take the right option.”Security has been beefed up for both teams as well as for the Test, which is a sellout for all five days.

It indicates that Neser could remain with Australia’s Ashes squad beyond the Lord’s Test

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-2023

Legspinner Mitchell Swepson has signed for Glamorgan to play in the County Championship as cover for Michael Neser who is with the Australia Test squad.Although the Australia selectors do not officially reassess the squad until after the Lord’s Test it is a strong indication that Neser, who was initially called up to replace Josh Hazlewood for the World Test Championship final, will remain with the Ashes group.Swepson is expected to make his debut against Sussex on Sunday. It will be his first experience of county cricket and comes a few months after he lost is Cricket Australia contract.He had made his Test debut last year in Pakistan and played four matches across that tour and the Sri Lanka series which followed.However, he was an unused member of the squad in India earlier this year when offspinner Todd Murphy and left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann were preferred.Due to his presence in Australia’s squad, Swepson went more than two months without bowling in a competitive game between the end of January and the start of April where he feature in the A series against New Zealand.Swepson’s signing continues Glamorgan’s strong links with Queensland, adding to Neser and Marnus Labuschagne’s spells with the county.Neser is one five pace bowlers in Australia’s Test squad after he was retained after the India Test. Mitchell Starc is in contention to replace Scott Boland at Lord’s after England’s batters took Boland for nearly six-an-over at Edgbaston.

Islamabad United were cruising in a chase of 202 and then the legspinner came in and with a bit of magic

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Feb-2024

17.6 Naveen-ul-Haq to Azam Khan, OUT
Gottim! Good length, slanting in at middle, Azam wafts and it’s not through the line, Babar Azam at mid-off takes a brilliant catch under pressure. It’s really a fabulous catch and Peshawar are right back in the contest. Azam Khan will be gutted with himself to not get the job done. He was suckered with the hard length delivery and lost his shape while trying to smash him downtown.Azam Khan c Babar Azam b Naveen-ul-Haq 75 (30b 6×4 6×6) SR: 25018.1 Arif Yaqoob to Munro, OUT
Crowd roars as Peshawar pick another! Another set batter departs in quick succession! Yaqoob bowls a beauty, slow, mystifying and a tempting legbreak that never really arrived at him; Munro tries to insolently smash him over long-on and gets beaten by the beautiful guile, spin and he makes a complete mess of it while prancing down the track. Haseebullah with sharp glovework removes the bails in a flash and Munro has to take the long walk back into the pavilion. It’s proving to be another nail-biter!Colin Munro st †Haseebullah Khan b Arif Yaqoob 71 (53b 7×4 1×6) SR: 133.9618.2 Arif Yaqoob to Faheem, 1 run
Nicely bowled, not afraid to toss it up and give it flight, gets a decent amount of turn towards middle and leg, clipped off the pads to backward square18.3 Arif Yaqoob to Haider Ali, OUT
TAKEN AT DEEP MIDWICKET! Zalmi are on fire. Tosses up a delicious legbreak turning away from off, tries to whip it over the leg side and just didn’t quite get it far enough. A major twist in the plot! Islamabad United collapsing like a house of cards. This is not sensible batting by any means, everybody has tried to swing frantically from the first ballHaider Ali c Mohammad Haris b Arif Yaqoob 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 018.4 Arif Yaqoob to Imad Wasim, 1 leg bye
Floats a legbreak that has more twists than a mystery novel, Imad inverses his stance and tries to connect and wears it on his pads18.5 Arif Yaqoob to Faheem, OUT
This is madness from Islamabad! Trying an unconventional reverse sweep and playing a poor shot to point. Luke Wood took some steps to his left and pouches it comfortably. Yaqoob running all over the place in jubilation! More was expected from Faheem who has ample international cricket experience but it’s poor shot selection and not judicious from Islamabad’s stalwart. Meanwhile, Arif Yaqoob gets a fifer! Look at him go, elation conspicuous on his faceFaheem Ashraf c sub (DR Mousley) b Arif Yaqoob 1 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 5018.6 Arif Yaqoob to Hunain Shah, OUT
What is going on out there! Hunain gets down on one knee and takes an almighty swing. The ball hangs in the air for a while but goes straight to Rovman Powell who catches it brilliantly in his big bucket hands. Suddenly there is pandemonium! Yaqoob continues to produce magic in a match-turning spellHunain Shah c Powell b Arif Yaqoob 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Jack Leach has been ruled out of the rest of England’s Test series against India after failing to recover from a knee injury. The left-arm spinner damaged his left knee fielding on the opening day of the first Test in Hyderabad, diving to stop a boundary and colliding with the ground. He then exacerbated the injury on the second morning.The extent of the swelling of the 32-year-old’s knee meant he was unable to move freely, restricting him to a maximum of four-over spells for the remainder of the Test. Leach was able to bowl 26 overs in the first innings, but could only send down 10 in the second. He was still able to dismiss Shreyas Iyer, as England sealed victory by 28 runs.A lack of improvement in his condition meant he was subsequently ruled out of the second Test in Visakhapatnam, which India won to square the series. Initially, it was hoped the 10-day break in the series would afford Leach more time to recover, though he remained a doubt for the third Test in Rajkot.Related

• Ben Stokes' positive aggression is England's new mantra for success

• Cricket off the agenda as England head for Abu Dhabi break

Following further assessment in Abu Dhabi, where the England team have been based during this gap, Leach has decided to return home for further treatment and miss the last three Tests.A statement from the ECB read: “He will fly home from Abu Dhabi in the next 24 hours, where the England team have been staying ahead of the third Test in Rajkot, which starts on Thursday.”Leach will work closely with the England and Somerset medical teams in respect of his rehabilitation.”England confirmed they will not be calling up a replacement for Leach, who has been Ben Stokes’ primary spinner throughout his tenure. It is another blow for a popular member of the dressing room, who had only just returned from a stress fracture of the back that ruled him out of last summer’s Ashes.It means England’s spin options are now limited to the young trio of Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir – who made his debut in the second Test as a replacement for Leach, his Somerset team-mate – alongside Joe Root as the team’s sole allrounder.Leach’s absence means England are likely to veer from the one-seamer approach for the next Test, which begins on Thursday. The tourists may look to partner James Anderson with either Mark Wood (who played the first Test before being replaced by Anderson for the second) or Ollie Robinson.As ever, much will depend on the assessment of the surface from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum. The squad will arrive back in India on Monday ahead of their first training session on Tuesday at the Niranjan Shah Stadium.

Alan Shearer has expressed his frustration with Newcastle United after they released what he deemed a misleading statement regarding Alexander Isak’s absence from their pre-season tour. The former Newcastle captain and the Premier League's all-time top goalscorer criticised the club’s decision to cite a “minor thigh injury” as the reason for Isak missing the trip, just hours before news broke that the Swedish striker wants to leave the club this summer amid interest from Liverpool.

Isak left out of Newcastle's pre-season tripMagpies claimed it was because of an injuryReports then emerged stating striker wants to leaveFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Isak played a pivotal role in Newcastle’s resurgence under Howe. Since arriving on Tyneside, he has scored 62 goals in just 109 appearances, an impressive strike rate that has helped transform the Magpies into a top-five Premier League side. The highlight of his time in black and white came earlier this year when he led the front line as Newcastle lifted the Carabao Cup, ending the club’s 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy. His efforts also contributed to the team securing a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, returning them to the Champions League.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite the swirling speculation and Isak’s desire to leave, Howe and the Newcastle board are not ready to give up on their star striker just yet. According to sources close to the club, there is hope that a new contract could be negotiated, potentially with an agreement in place for a departure next summer. However, Liverpool are actively pursuing the striker, which has led the Swede to consider his options.

WHAT SHEARER SAID

Speaking to , Shearer said: "It's ridiculous what Newcastle put out this morning to say he wasn't on the trip because of a slight thigh injury. If they thought people wouldn't see through that…it was disappointing. They should've just told the truth straight away. I understand it's a very difficult situation for them but it is what it is."

Acknowledging the complexity of the situation, Shearer sympathised with the pressure on Howe but emphasised that honesty would have gone a long way.

"Howe has to use all his persuasive powers to do what he can and try to make him stay at least one more year," he added. "If that can't happen, then it is what it is. You have to get the very best deal for the football club and if someone is prepared to pay north of £150 million ($203m), and if he really, really wants to go, you can't step in his way.

"Isak has been brilliant for Newcastle, helped us achieve our dream of winning a trophy and if there's no way whatsoever that he can be persuaded to stay at Newcastle, then they have to get the best deal possible and if someone's prepared to pay what they want, you have to say thank you and build for the future. There's no individual bigger than the football club."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPWHAT NEXT?

Should Isak complete a move this summer, it would likely surpass the current British record fee Liverpool recently paid (£116m/$157m) for Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. However, Newcastle would be looking for a sum well above that, nearing the £150m mark. Such a deal would be a massive financial coup for Newcastle, who would then look to reinvest that amount into finding an able replacement.

Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal have reportedly entered the race to sign Newcastle United star Alexander Isak. Al-Hilal, who are looking for a new forward, are ready to compete with Liverpool to secure a transfer for the Swedish striker. The club are reportedly preparing a massive €130 million (£112m/$151m) offer to convince the Magpies to part ways with Isak.

• Al-Hilal eyeing move for Isak
• Ready to compete with Liverpool
• Isak could consider moving

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  reports that Al-Hilal know that convincing Isak to move to the Middle East at just 25 years of age would be a daunting task, but despite that challenge, they have reportedly gotten in touch with the attacker's agent as the club look to bolster their frontline ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Liverpool had earlier shown interest in Isak, but they have now turned their attention to Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike after being informed by the Magpies that their star player is not for sale. Isak had a dream journey in the 2024-25 campaign as he scored 23 league goals and finished just behind Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah. He also played a key role in Newcastle winning the Carabao Cup.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Amid speculation over Isak's future, his representative has dropped a bombshell as it has been claimed that the 25-year-old is indeed going through all the offers and is considering his options.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR NEWCASTLE?

  Eddie Howe's side will be back in action on Sunday as they take on Arsenal in a pre-season friendly in Singapore. It will be interesting to see whether Isak is involved after he sat out the heavy defeat to Celtic due to being distracted by the speculation.

Mathews bashed 42* off 22 with the bat and then returned with figures of 2 for 9 in two overs as Afghanistan went down by 72 runs

Andrew Fidel Fernando19-Feb-2024Angelo Mathews bashed 42 not out off 22 balls, then claimed two early wickets, as Sri Lanka stormed to a 73-run win in the second T20I to seal the T20I series. There were contributions from throughout Sri Lanka’s top order – Pathum Nissanka struck 25 off 11, Kusal Mendis struck 23 off 14, Sadeera Samarawickrama played an innings of substance as he hit 51 off 42, and Wanindu Hasaranga was hyper-aggressive again, hitting 22 off 9.In response, Afghanistan never really got going. None of their top five breached 15, and though Mohammad Nabi and Karim Janat put up something of a partnership, they never seemed to have the measure of this chase. Afghanistan were all out for 115 inside the first 17 overs.Mathews rocks it with batHaving come in in the 15th over, Mathews didn’t explode immediately – that’s generally not his style. Having made four off his first nine deliveries, Mathews began to find the boundary – a four over short off Fazalhaq Farooqi to start, before bashing a four back past Naveen-ul-Haq next over. It was in the 19th over, bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai, that he really unleashed the finisher of old. He spanked Omarzai’s first ball over deep midwicket, crashed the next one over deep square leg. A rattled Omarzai bowled a genuinely poor length ball outside off next ball, and Mathews punished him, launching him over long-on.He was dropped by Mohammad Nabi before his last six was struck – again back over the bowler’s head – but nevertheless, Mathews collected 33 runs off his last nine balls.Mathews rolls it with the ballOne of Mathews’ great strengths in the great Sri Lanka T20 teams of the past was his ability to deliver cheap overs with the new ball. On this occasion, he was penetrative too. Fifth ball, he had Hazratullah Zazai nicking a gentle away-seamer behind. Second ball of his next over, he took the prize wicket of Ibrahim Zadran, who eyed a slower ball and mis-hit it to mid-on. He only needed to bowl those two overs, but he conceded only nine, and took two wickets.Sri Lanka’s bowlers run through AfghanistanAt no point in the chase did it seem like the visitors were in it. After Mathews’ early wickets, left-armer Binura Fernando began to strike, and later, Wanindu Hasaranga began to cause trouble, and finally Matheesha Pathirana became a menace with his extreme pace (he frequently bowled deliveries over 150kph). In addition to Mathews, Fernando, Hasaranga, and Pathirana took two wickets each. Dasun Shanaka was excellent at cover, taking two good catches.

Cummins, Starc and Smith rested while David, Warner and Stoinis will need to return home from their franchise duties early

Alex Malcolm24-Jan-20240:50

Finch: Players like Fraser-McGurk ‘don’t come around every day’

Mitchell Marsh is firming as Australia’s likely captain for the T20 World Cup after being named to take the reins for a three-match T20I series against West Indies.David Warner, Tim David and Marcus Stoinis have all been included and will need to return home from their franchise duties early while Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Steven Smith have been rested with Cricket Australia stating that all three will likely be included in the squad for the T20I series in New Zealand in late February.The selectors are yet to confirm who will be Australia’s permanent T20I captain having not made a formal decision after Aaron Finch retired following the 2022 T20 World Cup. Australia have only played two T20I series since then with Marsh leading an inexperienced team to a 3-0 triumph in South Africa before Matthew Wade took charge of a depleted team in India after the ODI World Cup triumph.Related

• Smith, Cummins, Starc return for New Zealand T20Is, Marsh to captain

• How Marsh turned a corner and made 2023 his own

• Marcus Stoinis re-signs with Melbourne Stars for three more seasons

• Stoinis to play SA20 after BBL, says ODI omission makes 'complete sense'

• McDonald: Maxwell 'needs to have a look at what he's doing'

Coach Andrew McDonald was absent for both of those series, with assistant coach Michael Di Venuto standing in for the South Africa series when Marsh was captain. McDonald is also not coaching the West Indies series with Daniel Vettori taking charge although he may be present for one of the matches in Hobart. Chairman of selectors George Bailey confirmed that a decision on the permanent captain will not be made until after the New Zealand series when McDonald and Marsh will likely get to work together.”I think we will make a decision about that post the New Zealand series,” Bailey said. “New Zealand will be the time when Andrew jumps back in so it’s a good chance to see how those two work together. Confident that’ll work, but we just haven’t seen it yet. That’s the way that’s tracking. Mitch will obviously get the opportunity here and likely to get the opportunity in New Zealand as well.”Marsh will captain on home soil for the first time and will have a very strong squad to work with. Smith will rest from the T20I series after captaining the ODI team in the three-match series against West Indies in the week before the T20Is but has stated that he expects to be in the squad for the New Zealand T20I series.Mitchell Marsh led Australia in a three-match series against South Africa last year•Getty Images

“I want to be a part of it, as anyone would, I suppose,” Smith said on Wednesday. “I’ve had a few opportunities to open and obviously did it well in the Big Bash. It’s different to international cricket, I know, but I haven’t had a huge opportunity there. I’d certainly be interested, but we’ll wait and see.”Bailey confirmed that Smith was being rested and would return for New Zealand.”It’s an opportunity for him to just have a really small break,” Bailey said. “He’s likely to return for that New Zealand series in some capacity, so he’ll continue to get opportunities.”Cummins and Starc are resting from all of the West Indies limited-overs matches after playing every home Test during the summer. Both are expected to play in the T20Is in New Zealand and two Test matches on the same tour but the selectors are mindful of their IPL workload thereafter ahead of the T20 World Cup.Josh Hazlewood has been included in the T20I squad to face West Indies despite resting from the ODIs. Hazlewood does not have an IPL deal and the six matches against West Indies and New Zealand will be his only chance to play the format before the World Cup.Warner has been recalled from the ILT20 as was long forecast by the selectors. David will also leave the ILT20 early while Stoinis will leave the SA20 early having been left out of the ODI squad after discussions with the selectors. All three will be required back in Australia on February 7 with the first match of the series to be played in Hobart on February 9.Glenn Maxwell, David, Stoinis and the two wicketkeeper-batters Wade and Josh Inglis will form the backbone of Australia’s middle-order at the World Cup. Bailey said no decision had been made on who would be the first-choice wicketkeeper at the World Cup but did suggest Wade was a vital cog at No.7.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“I think Wadey has done a phenomenal job in that position across a long period of time and I thought he was wonderful in India post the World Cup in those five games, led the side really well, kept well,” Bailey said. “I continue to think that five, six, seven, those roles in that T20 side are the most challenging but really, really important.”I think we’re seeing that become a highly specialized and a highly skilled position.”I think Wadey’s held that No.7 spot down really, really well. But not taking away some of the work that Ingo has done with the bat as well and it’s not to say that both of them can’t play in the same team.”Matthew Short has also been included in the squad and has a chance to be part of the World Cup given his form and skillset as a powerful, flexible batting option and a part-time offspinner.Travis Head is likely to open alongside Warner as they did in the ODI World Cup but Short could slot in at the top as well. Bailey did suggest Australia would trial several combinations over the next six games.Australia have only named one spinner in Adam Zampa with Maxwell, Head and Short to provide spin overs as well. Australia looks likely to go to the T20 World Cup with just one specialist spinner in the XI again after winning the 2021 T20 World Cup and the ODI World Cup last year with Zampa, Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood as the four specialist bowlers.But Bailey said they would likely take a second spinner in the squad to the World Cup later in the year. They just didn’t need to pick one in Australian conditions and decided that Ashton Agar and Tanveer Sangha were better off playing state cricket.”We didn’t feel like there was going to be necessarily the opportunity for those guys to play so they get the opportunity by going back to domestic cricket,” Bailey said.”I do think come the West Indies there’ll be a second spinner there without a doubt.”Sean Abbott, Jason Behrendorff and Nathan Ellis have been picked as the next three pacemen behind the big three and they appear to be vying for the last spot in Australia’s first-choice 15 for the World Cup.There is no room in the squad for allrounder Cameron Green. The selectors are keen for him to return to Sheffield Shield cricket after the ODI series to prepare for the Test tour of New Zealand given he is set to have a full IPL with Royal Challengers Bangalore to put his name up for selection for the World Cup.”I think he’s a pretty special player in that format,” Bailey said. “He’s someone who’s going to go to the IPL so we’re going to get a really good look at him there. Just back into the Test side. He’s going to get an opportunity in the ODIs as well. So for him, as it is for all the all-format players at different times, it’s just balancing what the priority is.”His focus will continue to be on preparing for the Test format knowing that he’s going to get a really good block of T20 cricket in the IPL.”Australia T20I squad versus West Indies: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Jason Behrendorff, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul didn’t want to read too much into his team’s 20-run defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals in their opening game of IPL 2024, but has said that none of the teams have been able to crack the powerplay code in the first week of the season so far.The two-bouncer-per-over rule has been introduced in IPL from this season and LSG were bounced out in the first six overs of their chase of 194, falling to 47 for 3. In comparison, Rajasthan Royals had scored 54 for 2 in their first six overs.Both Devdutt Padikkal and Rahul needed to undergo concussion protocols after being hit on the helmet by Trent Boult.Related

• Powerplay swinger to death-overs specialist: the reinvention of Sandeep Sharma

• Report – Samson, Boult star as Royals overpower LSG

“It is just the first game and I am not going to make too much out of it or over-analyse,” Rahul said at the post-match presentation.”[The] Powerplay is crucial for every team, and I don’t think any team has cracked it yet. Mohsin [Khan] was our powerplay bowler in the first season, but he wasn’t fully fit last season. Good to see him back. Naveen [ul-Haq] has been crucial for us since he has come in.”Rahul felt that 194 was a chaseable target in Jaipur. “I don’t think the target was a lot. It was just 10 over-par,” he said. “We bowled well in patches. Just made a few mistakes.”We will learn from the small mistakes we made. When we are three [down] for nothing, and we gave ourselves a chance of chasing 194 speaks of our line-up. But we need to find ways to win games of cricket. We’ll try to build from here, and see where we can get stronger.”Having missed the better part of the last season with a hamstring injury, Rahul was happy to start the current edition of the IPL with a half-century.”When you get runs, you always feel good,” he said. “But it’s important for us to end up on the winning side. That gives more satisfaction.”Super Giants’ vice-captain Nicholas Pooran felt that the bowlers squandered the early advantage after making inroads in the powerplay. Royals captain Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag, who batted at No.4, forged a 93-run partnership off only 59 balls for the third wicket to propel their side to 193. In response, Super Giants managed 173.”I felt like with the ball we were a bit undisciplined,” Pooran said at his post-match press conference. “We got off to a really nice start in the powerplay, and the game was in the balance there. I felt that from overs seven to 12 we bowled poorly, we gave away some easy boundaries there. I felt they scored 15-20 runs too many on that wicket. But in saying that it’s only the first game of the tournament and obviously we fell short but we got an opportunity to understand what we have to do from a bowling perspective.”

Kuhnemann set to join Tasmania after not playing any Shield cricket last summer while Burns was left off the contract list as Queensland opt to promote youth

Alex Malcolm19-Apr-2024

Left-arm orthodox Test spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has left Queensland and is set to head to Tasmania in a bid to play more first-class cricket to put himself in the frame for the tour of Sri Lanka, while former Test opener Joe Burns has not been offered a contract as Queensland revamp their list after a poor season.Kuhnemann, 27, played three Tests for Australia last year on the tour of India after being flown in following the first Test defeat and he took 5 for 16 in Australia’s sole victory in Indore.But since that Test appearance he has not played a single Sheffield Shield match for Queensland, and no first-class matches since an appearance for Australia A last September, with the Bulls preferring legspinner Mitchell Swepson as their No.1 spinner. The conditions in Brisbane, and in Shield cricket generally, have not been conducive to picking two spinners in the same XI meaning Kuhnemann’s only appearances for Queensland were in the Marsh Cup, and the only red-ball cricket he played was for Queensland’s Second XI and for his Queensland premier club Gold Coast.Related

Kuhnemann joins Tasmania to push for a Test return

Agar, Stoinis, Behrendorff and Tye go freelance without WA contracts

Philippe and Maddinson make move to New South Wales

Jason Sangha and Mackenzie Harvey sign with South Australia

Under-19 World Cup trio Konstas, Hicks and Anderson earn NSW contracts

Kuhnemann is set to move to Tasmania to become their No.1 spinner in Shield and Marsh Cup cricket and will strengthen Tasmania’s attack after they fell just short of winning the Shield title. He is still contracted to play for Brisbane Heat in the BBL for the next two seasons.Meanwhile, Burns has been left off Queensland’s contract after he was left out of both the Shield and Marsh Cup sides last summer. His Shield omission in February came as a surprise given he had performed well in the early part of the season. He made a 133 and 55 against eventual finalists Tasmania in Hobart and 91 in a nail-biting fourth innings chase against South Australia in Brisbane. He also made an unbeaten 62 not out in a draw against eventual champions Western Australia before the BBL against an attack featuring Jhye Richardson and Cameron Green.Joe Burns has not been offered a contract•Getty Images

But despite being the Bulls leading run-scorer through the first seven games and averaging a healthy 37.16 in a season dominated by the bowlers, Queensland decided to blood some young batters in the second half of the season when they fell out of Shield final contention. He spent some time away from the squad late in the season due to a family bereavement.Queensland have opted not to offer the 34-year-old a contract. Burns has played 23 Tests for Australia and made four Test hundreds. He is also out of contract at the Melbourne Stars.The Bulls have instead promoted opener Angus Lovell onto the contract list after making his Shield debut last summer and playing four matches.Queensland have also signed four of Australia’s Under-19 World Cup winners for next season. Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Hugh Weibgen and promising quick Callum Vidler have received full contracts. Vidler made his Shield debut in the final round of the season against New South Wales and took five wickets.Fellow Australia Under-19 squad members Lachlan Aitken and Tom Straker have been handed rookie deals. Straker has been recruited from New South Wales after he took a record-breaking 6 for 24 in the Under-19 World Cup semi-final win over Pakistan.Queensland are still searching for a new coach after parting ways with Wade Seccombe last month.Queensland squad 2024-25: Lachlan Aitken (rookie), Xavier Bartlett (CA contract), Max Bryant, Hugo Burdon, Jack Clayton, Liam Guthrie, Lachlan Hearne, Usman Khawaja (CA), Marnus Labuschagne (CA), Angus Lovell, Ben McDermott, Michael Neser, Jimmy Pierson, Matthew Renshaw, Jem Ryan (rookie), Gurinder Sandhu, Jack Sinfield, Mark Steketee, Tom Straker (rookie), Connor Sully, Mitch Swepson, Bryce Street, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Tom Whitney (rookie), Jack WildermuthIns: Angus Lovell, Lachlan Hearne, Callum Vidler, Lachlan Aitken, Jem Ryan, Tom StrakerOuts: Joe Burns, James Bazley, Blake Edwards, Aryan Jain, Matthew Kuhnemann, Will Prestwidge