Experienced pair dropped by Redbacks

South Australia have dropped two experienced players for their crucial Sheffield Shield clash against New South Wales starting on Thursday.

Top-order batsman Tom Cooper and wicketkeeper Tim Ludeman have been omitted from the Redbacks' 12-man squad, while Nick Benton (illness) and Adam Zampa (international duty) have also been left out.

Cooper has managed scores of 0, 34, 5 and 18 since Christmas, while Ludeman hasn't gone past 26 in his four most recent knocks.

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"We felt as a selection group that both players, while senior players and important parts of our group, had been given seven games this season of opportunity and neither of them had really grabbed that opportunity to make runs," General Manager High Performance, Tim Nielsen said.

"With three games to go and the potential to still play in a Sheffield Shield final, we were keen to try and do something after a couple of losses to spark a change in performance."

Veteran bowler Gary Putland is one of four inclusions, with Tom Andrews, Alex Carey and Jake Weatherald also given a chance to impress in the four-day Shield match in Coffs Harbour.

"Carey's form with the bat in both South Australia’s second XI and Premier Cricket level has been outstanding. I think he's made three hundred in his last five or six hits, so he’s made lots of runs and can bat at the top of the order and wicket-keep," said Nielsen.

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"Tom Cooper misses out to Jake Weatherald who made a hundred in the last Futures League game against Western Australia at Glenelg Oval and he's made some runs for Adelaide University in the premier competition as well this year.

"He plays well off both the front and back foot, so we felt the time was right to introduce him into the team also."

The Redbacks currently sit in third place on the Shield table and need a victory over the Blues to stay in touch for a place in the final.

Redbacks squad: Travis Head (c), Thomas Andrews, Alex Carey, Mark Cosgrove, Jake Lehmann, Joe Mennie, Gary Putland, Sam Raphael, Alex Ross, Cameron Valente, Jake Weatherald, Daniel Worrall.

In: Tom Andrews, Alex Carey, Gary Putland, Jake Weatherald

Out: Nick Benton (injured) Tom Cooper, Tim Ludeman, Adam Zampa (Australia T20)