After two WNCL wins over the weekend, the Male Tasmanian Tigers are returning for the first One Day Cup game since the beginning of December.
Taking on New South Wales at the University of Tasmania Stadium, the Tigers have three games remaining in the One Day Cup season, and three wins would give them every chance of still making a white ball final for the first time in several years.
Following a rain-affected loss against Queensland at Ninja Stadium, the Tigers will be looking to capitalize on the momentum they have been able to foster since a portion of the squad won BBL|14 with the Hobart Hurricanes last week.
The match against NSW is Tasmania's first game in Launceston this season, and begins a busy period of domestic cricket, with a Shield game against Victoria being played this weekend too.
Tasmania has several players unavailable for selection due to overseas competitions and an Australian test series, with Beau Webster, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Nathan Ellis, and Matthew Wade all participating in other forms of cricket.
This creates further opportunities for Tasmanian players to stake their claim for selection, and give Head Coach Jeff Vaughan a reason to select them for further matches.
Paddy Dooley, Aidan O'Connor, Will Prestwidge, Nivethan Radhakrishnan, and Tim Ward all come into Tasmania's squad from the last match against Queensland and could potentially play their first One Day Cup game of the season.
O'Connor, a talented Northern Tasmanian 18-year-old all-rounder has been selected in the Tigers squad, and has been impressing staff with his form in the Cricket Tasmania Premier League and in Australian representative sides over the past eighteen months.
Ward has also been in terrific form in red ball matches for Tasmania, and is fresh off two hundreds for the CA XI against the English Lions.
If selected, O'Connor, Prestwidge and Radhakrhishnan will all be presented with their first Tasmanian One Day Cup caps.
Their squad for tomorrow's match against NSW at UTAS Stadium consists of:
Jordan Silk (C)
Gabe Bell
Paddy Dooley
Jake Doran
Brad Hope
Caleb Jewell
Rafael MacMillan
Riley Meredith
Aidan O'Connor
Will Prestwidge
Nivethan Radhakrishnan
Charlie Wakim
Tim Ward
MATCH DETAILS
Tasmanian Tigers v NSW Men
Wednesday 5 February 2025
University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston
First ball: 11.05 am AEDT
Broadcast: Kayo Sports & cricket.com.au