Abbott returns to NSW Shield side

Fresh from a standout BBL season, NSW allrounder Sean Abbott will return to the longer form of the game this week for the first time in nearly 12 months.

Abbott was on Monday named in the Blues' Sheffield Shield squad to take on Victoria at the MCG starting on Wednesday.

After missing the first half of the Shield season and the domestic one-day cup because of a broken ankle suffered playing for Australia A in August, the 24-year-old rebounded spectacularly in the BBL.

He finished as the competition's leading wicket-taker with 20 at an average of 16.5 in 10 games for runners-up the Sydney Sixers.

"I'm taking wickets, which is nice," Abbott said.

"I'd been having a bit of luck come my way with the ball for the majority of the Big Bash.

"I'm hoping some of that luck and some of that form can transfer into red-ball cricket because we need to win most of our last five games to qualify for the finals so we need to play our best cricket."

Abbott has not turned out for the NSW Shield side since March last year.

He has been added to the Blues' squad along with Moises Henriques, Trent Copeland, Will Somerville and Nick Larkin, who received a call-up following back-to-back double centuries for the NSW Futures League side.

Nathan Lyon and Steve O'Keefe will be unavailable for the Blues as they get ready to travel with the Australian Test squad to India.

The Blues (fourth, two wins) require a win over the unbeaten Bushrangers to stay in finals contention.

"We've got a very close squad at the Blues and I haven't played a game with the guys yet this season," Abbott said.

"The thing I'm most keen about is getting back around the Blues and helping the team make a run for the finals, and that starts down in Melbourne this week."

NSW: Moises Henriques (c), Sean Abbott, Doug Bollinger, Harry Conway, Trent Copeland, Ed Cowan, Daniel Hughes, Nick Larkin, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Kurtis Patterson, Will Somerville.