Head to lead Redbacks' one-day campaign

Young captain Travis Head will lead the West End Redbacks into a new era at the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup in Sydney next month.

The Redbacks today announced their 14-man squad for the three-week tournament, featuring a mixture of youth and experience as they look to climb off the bottom of the table under new coach Jamie Siddons.

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Experienced trio Callum Ferguson, Tom Cooper and Tim Ludeman will be expected to combine with the 21-year-old Head for a majority of the runs, while right-arm quick Kane Richardson will lead a pace attack also featuring the likes of Joe Mennie, Gary Putland and Daniel Worrall.

Exciting leg-spinner Adam Zampa will take on more responsibility with the ball in the absence of former skipper and spinner Johan Botha. Zampa claimed a team-high 10 wickets at an average of 26.50 last season and spent time training with the Australia squad during the Qantas Tour of the British Isles during the off-season.

There was no spot for experienced batsman Mark Cosgrove nor swing bowler Chadd Sayers who is edging closer to a return following surgery on his left ankle towards the end of last season.

“I watched from a distance last year and although the results weren’t quite there I still saw some breakout performances,” Siddons said.

“Guys like Adam Zampa and Alex Ross really stepped up, so we’ll be hoping they can maintain that momentum into this tournament.

“On top of that we still have some returning campaigners in players like Ferguson and Cooper, who have been around this competition for a while now and will be integral for us again.”

The Redbacks have managed only two one-day victories across the past two years and Siddons insists his group has put in the work before heading to Sydney for the start of the summer.

“It’s been a very physical couple of months and all the boys have really embraced the challenge we set to them at the start of pre-season,” the 1995-96 Shield-winning captain said.

“As far as preparation goes, everyone has put in the hard yards and now we’re excited to play our first match.

“This is our first real test of the year and we want to go out there and play some really positive cricket for our fans.”

Rookie-listed duo Nick Winter and Tom Andrews have also been included in the 14-man squad, with the latter aiming to make his one-day domestic debut. Winter showed some impressive signs for the Melbourne Renegades in the KFC Big Bash League last summer, collecting five wickets in his three appearances.

South Australia begin their domestic campaign against defending one-day champions Western Australia on October 5 at Hurstville Oval.

South Australia Matador Cup squad: Travis Head (c), Tom Andrews, Tom Cooper, Callum Ferguson, Jake Lehmann, Tim Ludeman, Joe Mennie, Gary Putland, Kane Richardson, Sam Raphael, Alex Ross, Daniel Worrall, Nick Winter, Adam Zampa