Western Australia’s cricket team is set to welcome back key players Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly for their Sheffield Shield match against Queensland at Allan Border Field. The duo, who recently represented Australia in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, will bolster the squad ahead of the penultimate round of the 2025-2026 season. Inglis, who last played for WA in a nail-biting one-wicket victory over Queensland at the WACA Ground last November, will be joined by Connolly, whose most recent appearance came in a drawn match against South Australia, where he scored crucial half-centuries. The squad also includes the return of Hilton Cartwright, who missed the previous game against Victoria due to a hamstring injury. WA may further strengthen its lineup by recalling fast bowlers Matt Kelly and Joel Paris, both of whom made successful comebacks from injury during the One-Day Cup clash against Victoria. Kelly, a standout performer earlier in the season, claimed 21 wickets at an average of 19.33 in his first four Shield matches, while Paris, who made only one appearance in the season’s opening game against New South Wales, is now in contention for selection. Jhye Richardson, however, will miss the match as part of Cricket Australia’s management plan. Despite a strong showing in the Shield last month, where he took six wickets across two games against Tasmania and Victoria, he remains unavailable. Allrounder Kade Povey, who made his debut against Victoria, will also be sidelined due to a split webbing injury. Other excluded players include Ashton Turner, Teague Wyllie, and Joel Curtis. While a final Shield spot is no longer within reach, WA aims to improve its ladder position in the final two games to avoid finishing sixth. The team currently sits on 17.#sheffield_shield #josh_inglis #cooper_connolly #allan_border_field #cameron_bancroft
