Test showdown looms in suburban Hurstville

AUSTRALIAN selectors are facing the bizarre scenario of the No.1 showdown for key Ashes spots being staged at a postage-stamp sized ground in suburban Sydney.

NSW and Western Australia, both stacked with Test incumbents and hopefuls, will clash at Hurstville Oval in round two of the Sheffield Shield on November 4.

Blues opener Nic Maddin- son yesterday got his eye in at the ground with another brilliant hundred in the one-day Cup and Peter Nevill boosted his baggy green claims by breaking a new domestic 50over record with six catches and two stumpings as he vies to dislodge incumbent gloveman Matt Wade.

Maddinson admits he needs a “1000-run season” to get back into Test reckoning, but the 25-year-old has made a great start to proving this can be the year he nails down consistency with the bat after posting his second ton in the past week to guide NSW to a 93run bonus-point victory over the Cricket Australia XI.

Australian coach Darren Lehmann has declared selectors are in the market for “the best batsman” to be awarded the No.6 vacancy, and that makes the NSW v WA Shield blockbuster a key match in the pre-Ashes build-up.

WA’s Shaun Marsh has bolted to the front of the queue for No.6 with two 50s and a century to open the one-day season, and the Warriors also boast the other leading contenders in Hilton Cartwright, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Marsh.

For NSW, Moises Henriques and Kurtis Patterson are red-hot claims, while Maddinson and Daniel Hughes can’t be dismissed either.

Not to mention that Test captain Steve Smith, deputy David Warner and the entire Ashes bowling attack of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon will also turn out for NSW.

“NSW seem to play all our games at suburban grounds so it’s pretty normal I guess,” Maddinson said. “I think a few of our blokes have forgotten what the SCG looks like.

“Having Steve Smith and Dave Warner especially go out to bat at Hurstville Oval might feel a bit strange.”