Sam Fanning has made a compelling case to return to Western Australia’s one-day team as the three-time reigning champions look to cover Sam Whiteman’s absence.
Whiteman has been ruled out for the first two games of the tournament, which begins with a clash against New South Wales on Sunday, with a broken finger.
Adam Voges’ side also play South Australia on Tuesday, before returning home for a four-day match against Queensland starting October 8.
Cameron Bancroft has returned to Perth after winning England’s T20 Blast with Gloucestershire just days ago and appears likely to travel to Sydney.
But Whiteman’s injury comes while WA have six players — Mitch Marsh, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis and Mahli Beardman — on international duty.
In a two-day practice game with WA teammates last week, Fanning hit 123 off 188 balls while opening the batting, days after he struck 63 off 75 balls in a 50-over hit-out.
Fanning played one game in the format for the State last season. He scored four in a clash with the Blues at the WACA Ground.
Bancroft batted at No.3 during WA’s white-ball campaign last year, with Whiteman at four. It is likely if Fanning returns to the side he would effectively replace Josh Philippe, who left for New South Wales this season.
Hilton Cartwright, D’Arcy Short, Hilton Cartwright and Nick Hobson all played in this year’s final and are set to be available, while Ashton Turner will return from injury and regain the captaincy.
Teague Wyllie could also be considered after a winter playing club cricket in England where he worked specifically on his white-ball game.
The workloads of pace twins Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson will be managed by Cricket Australia, but WA will be hoping they are both given the green light to play at least of next week’s double-header.
Joel Paris is expected to be rested with an eye towards the Sheffield Shield season after playing only the final of the one-day tournament last season, while fellow left-armer Liam Haskett is battling stress fractures in his back and Hamish McKenzie is unavailable.
With Inglis on international duty, recruit Baxter Holt could debut, unless selectors opt to hand wicket-keeping duties to Bancroft.
WA is expected to announce their squad for the first two matches on Thursday.