Jaques to make return from mumps

Phil Jaques will return from his mumps setback to play for New South Wales in the FR Cup in his hometown Wollongong this Sunday. The all-clear will encourage Australia who had been hoping for such news ahead of the Boxing Day Test against India.

The Blues, who are out to avenge their recent defeat to South Australia, are set to hand a debut to 18-year-old allrounder Steven Smith, a top-order batsman for Sutherland and promising leg-spinner. He topscored for the 2nd XI in Adelaide this week with 80, while taking three wickets for 40. He is also the leading run-scorer in first grade this season, with 676 runs at 61.45.

New South Wales are rooted to the bottom of the table with five losses out of six matches, the other a no-result. South Australia, meanwhile, were beaten by Queensland in a rain-affected mid-week match, but had three successive wins under their belt beforehand.

New South Wales squad Phil Jaques, Peter Forrest, Simon Katich (capt), Phillip Hughes, Dominic Thornely (wk), Brad Haddin, Steven Smith, Moises Henriques, Matthew Nicholson, Nathan Hauritz, Mark Cameron, Doug Bollinger.

South Australia Daniel Harris, Matthew Elliott, Cameron Borgas, Mark Cosgrove, Callum Ferguson, Nathan Adcock (capt), Daniel Christian, Graham Manou, Dan Cullen, Shane Deitz, Jason Gillespie, Ryan Harris, Paul Rofe.