Law-less Queensland seek to topple NSW

SYDNEY, Oct 12 AAP - A Law-less Queensland will be out to heal an eight month old scar when it plays defending ING Cup champion NSW in the opening interstate cricket match of the new season at North Sydney Oval tomorrow.

Three changes were made to both the teams which contested last season's final back in February with each side under new leadership.

Former Western Australia skipper Simon Katich was immediately installed as NSW captain and came into the side for Mark Higgs, who moved to South Australia.

Spinner and last summer's leading ING wicket taker Stuart MacGill and paceman Don Nash were recalled to the NSW side after missing the final while fast bowler Stuart Clark was unavailable due to injury and batsman Matthew Phelps dropped.

One day international batsman Jimmy Maher took over as Queensland skipper from Stuart Law who stood down at the end of last season, and then lost his place in the side to Brendan Nash.

Young pacemen Scott Brant and Damien MacKenzie, both of whom made their debuts for the Bulls last season, were also recalled to the side in place of fast bowler Joe Dawes and Nathan Hauritz.

All-rounder Andrew Symonds made it clear Queensland was still smarting from its 19 run loss to NSW in last season's final at the Gabba back in Feburary.

"We didn't play real well, it was just one of those days, they got the better of us. We've still got a scar which we want to stitch up and fix and hopefully we can do that on Sunday," Symonds said.

"We've had a good preparation, a good camp on Stradbroke Island last week and we've got a couple of new faces which should be refreshing for us and hopefully we can lead the way in this competition."

While Law failed to score a single 50 in each of the Bulls' last two ING campaigns, both of which he only averaged 14 in, his demotion came as a shock to team mates and opponents alike.

"He's obviously been a fantastic player for them and their most successful captain in state history, so he will be a big bit out of their side because he's a very good one-day cricketer and proven himself over many years," Katich said.

"But I guess that gives an opportunity to one of their younger guys, so it will be interesting to see how they go without him."

NSW all-rounder Shane Lee, who captained the Blues to back-to-back ING titles over the last two seasons said the Bulls would still be very competitive and well organised without Law.

"They've got plenty of depth, so we definitely have to be on our game. Looking at the teams on paper we probably go in as favourites, but in-one day cricket that doesn't mean too much," Lee said.

The teams for tomorrow's match are:

NSW: Simon Katich (captain), Corey Richards, Brad Haddin, Michael Bevan, Michael Clarke, Shane Lee, Dominic Thornely, Don Nash, Stuart MacGill, Shawn Bradstreet, Nathan Bracken, Grant Lambert.

Qld: Jimmy Maher (capt), Martin Love, Lee Carseldine, Clinton Perren, Andrew Symonds, Brendan Nash, James Hopes, Wade Seccombe, Ashley Noffke, Michael Kasprowicz, Scott Brant, Damien MacKenzie.