Sheffield Shield: Western Australia captain Sam Whiteman misses clash with Tasmania with side strain

Western Australia’s captain Sam Whiteman has been pulled out of the Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania in Hobart starting today with a side strain.

The opener picked up the injury during a training session at Ninja Stadium on Thursday and is now the seventh change made to the side that defeated the Tigers in Perth last week.

Whiteman missed last Friday’s calamitous one-day loss to Tasmania, where WA were bowled out for 53, with a minor quad strain that he had overcome in time for this match.

Ashton Turner, who is playing his first shield match for the season, will captain the side.

Hilton Cartwright, Cam Gannon, Matthew Kelly and Brody Couch are the only players to appear in both matches.

Ashton Agar has been included for his first first-class game since his most recent Test match in January of 2023, while Teague Wyllie has earned a recall for the first time since February.

Wyllie is poised to open the batting with fellow youngster Sam Fanning, while Jayden Goodwin, who became a regular last summer but lost his spot in a stacked team last week, returns to bat at No.3.

Adam Voges’ side are without Australia A representatives Cam Bancroft and Cooper Connolly, while Corey Rocchiccioli is training with a one-day international squad that also includes Josh Inglis and Aaron Hardie.

Mitch Marsh is on paternity leave, awaiting the birth of his first child, while Charlie Stobo has been dropped from the 13-man squad.

Mahli Beardman is the other spare member of the squad.

WA won the toss and sent Tasmania into bat.