Stop associating Sean Abbott with Hughes death, asks NSW teammates

Sean Abbott

Abbott has not played since hitting Phillip Hughes with a bouncer at the SCG two weeks ago.

However the right-armer, 22, has been named in a 12-man New South Wales squad for the Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland starting Tuesday.

The match will be played at the same ground where Hughes was killed, although the exact pitch used in last month's abandoned match won't be played on again this summer.

Former Test all-rounder Moises Henriques, who will captain the home team, said Abbott was in a strong frame of mind.

But he and his teammates do not want Abbott's name associated with Hughes' death.

"He's coping pretty well," Henriques told Sky Sports Radio.

"I guess from our point of view as fellow players, we're trying to expel his name from the tragedy a little bit, because in my opinion I don't think he's any more at fault than any other fast bowler who's ever bowled a bouncer in his career.

"We're actually trying to remove his name from everything that's happened, and just treat him as another one of the players."

Abbott, who attended Hughes' funeral in northern New South Wales last week, has received an outpouring of support after the accident.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said he was 'incredibly impressed' by the 22-year-old's maturity.

Fringe Test bowlers Mitchell Starc and Steve O'Keefe will also play in the match.

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