Cummins, Hazlewood set to play part of Matador Cup

Fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are expected to be available for New South Wales at times during the Matador Cup next month, but the Blues will have do without Mitchell Starc as they defend their title.

Hazlewood is being rested from Australia's ODI tour of South Africa to help him preprare for the home Test summer, and Cummins has been out of action for a year due to a stress fracture in his back. Neither of the two men, who are both Cricket Australia-contracted, have been named in the 14-man Matador Cup squad but Cricket New South Wales said they would be available "at stages".

The Blues cruised to last year's title off the back of a remarkable tournament from Starc, who claimed 26 wickets - the next best in the whole competition was Kane Richardson's 15 for South Australia. Like Hazlewood, Starc was being rested from the ODI tour of South Africa but an accident at training in Sydney last week has curtailed his preparation for the summer.

Starc was going for a catch when he collided with a stump that had been dug into the ground, causing a deep laceration to his left shin. Australia captain Steven Smith said on Monday it was "one of the most gruesome things I've ever seen", but was confident Starc would be fit for the first Test of the summer. The aim is for Starc to play New South Wales' first Sheffield Shield game of the season, starting on October 25.

That means the Blues will rely instead on fast bowlers Doug Bollinger and Gurinder Sandhu to lead their attack during the Matador Cup, along with Hazlewood and Cummins when available. However, there is no shortage of international experience in the group, with Nathan Lyon, Peter Nevill, Steve O'Keefe and captain Moises Henriques all having played on Australia's recent tour of Sri Lanka.

Young fast bowlers Harry Conway and Ben Dwarshuis have been included and are in line for their List A debuts, while offspinner Chris Green is in the group having not played in last year's Matador Cup. New South Wales begin their campaign against the Cricket Australia XI on October 7 at Hurstville Oval.

New South Wales squad Moises Henriques (capt), Doug Bollinger, Ryan Carters, Harry Conway, Ed Cowan, Ben Dwarshuis, Chris Green, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Steve O'Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Gurinder Sandhu.