Players to watch this Shield season?
It's going to be an interesting one. While the very biggest Test names (bar Starc) are at the IPL, we still have 7 of the current Test XI - Marnus, Lyon, Wade (from round 3), Head, Burns, Paine, Starc. The IPL has also claimed a number of certain starters for Shield sides who aren't in the Test conversation right now - Finch, Maxwell, Stoinis, Carey. The conditions will also be interesting especially if the wickets get tired and offer spin as things go on.
Personally I'm hoping Mac Wright gets a few games, he looks like a very organised batsman. He didn't make runs in the two Shield games he played last season but batting at 3 is a tough ask for a rookie batsman. Hopefully he gets a chance to ease in down the order.
I'm also once again backing Ben McDermott to have his breakout Shield season. It'll happen one of these years I promise.
From other states, aside from the obvious names, I'm looking at Dans Hughes and Solway, Josh Inglis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Aaron Hardie.