Monday 8 December 2014 08:44, UK
Sean Abbott has been named in the New South Wales squad for their Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland on Tuesday.
The fast bowler is part of a 12-man squad for the four-day game at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the same venue where his ill-fated bouncer struck Phillip Hughes on the neck on November 25 - Hughes died in hospital two days later.
There had been doubts cast over Abbott's short and long-term future in the sport, with pundits suggesting the tragic accident could be too much for him to overcome.
But captain Moises Henriques said over the weekend that Abbott had reacted well since attending Hughes' funeral last week, and he was taking comfort from the support received from players and fans around the world.
"He is coping pretty well and I guess from our point of view we are trying to expel his name from the tragedy a little bit," Henriques said.
"I don’t think he was any more at fault than any fast bowler who has ever bowled a bouncer in his career.and we have been treating him just the same as any other player. That’s how Sean wants to be treated."
The final XI for the game will not be confirmed until Tuesday morning but players have been given the option of withdrawing should they feel they are not ready to play.
Meanwhile New South Wales state premier Mike Baird says a planned state funeral for Hughes has been called off. New South Wales planned a state funeral to honour Hughes' contribution to cricket in his home state, but Baird said the ceremony had been cancelled after consultation with Hughes' family and Cricket Australia.
"All parties felt that given the enormous outpouring of support at last Wednesday's funeral, that a State Memorial Service would no longer need to be held," Baird said.
