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Hopes returns for Bulls

Hopes returns for Bulls

30/11/2009 9:56 AM

Queensland has been bolstered by the return from injury of veteran all-rounder James Hopes for Wednesday's top-of-the-table Ford Ranger Cup clash with Victoria at the MCG.

Hopes' state and ODI team-mate Ben Laughlin has also been included as the Bulls seek to atone for their mauling at the hands of the Vics in their Sheffield Shield match which concluded on Sunday.

Hopes, who took four wickets in Brisbane grade cricket at the weekend, has been sidelined since tearing a hamstring on Australia's recent seven-match ODI tour of India while paceman Laughlin has recovered from an abdominal strain.

Another of the Bulls' ODI players, all-rounder Ryan Harris, is available again after a long lay-off with a knee injury, but was overlooked after making his return to grade cricket only on Saturday.

Nathan Rimmington, who was 12th man for the Shield match, has been named in the Bulls squad though fellow speedster Alister McDermott was not considered after straining a hamstring at the national youth championships in Canberra.

Skipper Chris Simpson is confident the Bulls can rebound strongly after going down to the Vics by an innings and 50 runs inside three days.

"To date, the result of the four-day games hasn't really affected the one-day games," Simpson said.

"If anything, the results have turned around."

"We've obviously got a good record here in one-day cricket and that's the beauty of us bringing in three or four fresh faces that weren't involved in this Shield game."

"Often that can be the spark that you need to carry into that one-day game and I know that come Wednesday afternoon this game will be out of our mind by then."

Batsman Ryan Broad will miss the Bulls' next two Ford Ranger Cup matches and at least one Shield match because of a broken thumb sustained while fielding against the Bushrangers on the opening day of play last Friday.

Queensland heads the Ford Ranger Cup table on 17 points with four wins from five matches, four points clear of the second-placed Vics who have won three from three.

Queensland Bulls squad: Chris Simpson (c), Lee Carseldine, Ben Cutting, Chris Hartley, James Hopes, Nick Kruger, Ben Laughlin, Craig Philipson, Nathan Reardon, Nathan Rimmington, Wade Townsend, Scott Walter (12th man to be named).

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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