Victoria have recalled legspinner Fawad Ahmed for the Sheffield Shield final against South Australia, to be played in Alice Springs from Sunday. Ahmed has replaced fast bowler Jackson Coleman in Victoria's 12-man squad for the decider as they aim to win the Shield title for the third consecutive summer.
Ahmed has played only one match in this year's Shield campaign, taking five wickets against Western Australia at the same ground earlier this month. However, the conditions at Traeger Park could favour slow bowling, in which case Ahmed could form a twin spin attack with Jon Holland, who is third on the wicket tally this summer with 42 Shield wickets at 21.11.
The Victoria side will be captained by Cameron White in the continued absence of regular skipper Matthew Wade, who is with the Test squad in India.
"It's an amazing achievement to be involved in a third straight Sheffield Shield final, and it's also a golden opportunity to make history as the first Victorian side to go back-to-back-to-back," Victoria chairman of selectors Andrew Lynch said.
"Everyone from the players to the coaches have worked incredibly hard to get to this point again, and we also can't wait to take the final to Alice Springs for the first time. The squad we've named will thrive in the conditions at Traeger Park, and hopefully can bring home another title to Victoria."
Victoria squad Travis Dean, Marcus Harris, Rob Quiney, Aaron Finch, Cameron White (capt), Daniel Christian, Seb Gotch (wk), James Pattinson, Chris Tremain, Scott Boland, Jon Holland, Fawad Ahmed.