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Test specialists to get strong Shield prep

Scott BaileyAAP
Red-ball specialists like Usman Khawaja will get a strong shield lead up to the summer's Tests.
Camera IconRed-ball specialists like Usman Khawaja will get a strong shield lead up to the summer's Tests. Credit: AP

Australia's red-ball specialists will have at least four Sheffield Shield games before the start of the Test summer as officials plan to return to a full domestic schedule in the 2022-23 season.

Cricket Australia signalled their intention to move into post-pandemic life on Wednesday, with 10 full rounds of the Shield competition to return for the first time since 2018-19.

A full seven-round men's one-day competition will also feature, as well as a previously announced full home-and-away Women's National Cricket League for the first time.

The domestic season will begin on September 23 with one-day matches in both the men's and women's competition, while the first Shield round begins on October 3.

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It means Test specialists such as Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon and other hopefuls will have four matches to press their claims before Australia's first Test against West Indies starting November 1.

Another match could also be available, depending how early players are called into camp during a staggered fifth round.

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"Maintaining the strength of our domestic competitions is a priority for Australian cricket and it's brilliant to see so much elite cricket being played," CA's head of operations Peter Roach said.

"We are delighted to deliver a domestic schedule today which sees a return to full competitions across both men's competitions and an extended WNCL.

"A full WNCL season with two matches against each opponent is a logical step and provides greater opportunities for our emerging women's cricketers to play alongside our world-leading Australian players."

Managing the workload of Australia's cricketers has long been a balancing act, with minimal lead-in time to Test summers having previously been an issue.

Khawaja and Lyon are likely to get the most lead-in cricket for their states, given they are the only two Test players not to feature in any national white-ball sides.

Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey will also likely have a long run in, given they are unlikely to be selected for the T20 tour of India or home World Cup.

Meanwhile CA are hopeful the scheduling of the WNCL will allow national women''s team stars to feature in more matches, after barely playing for their states in recent summers.

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