Nineteen-19-year-old Novocastrian Jason Sangha could find himself lining up against two of the world’s premier batsmen Virat Kohli and Steve Smith within the same month.
Sangha, who notched up his first Sheffield Shield century for NSW at the SCG on Tuesday, may be selected for the Cricket Australia XI to play Kohli’s Indian troops in a tour match from November 29 after potentially returning for Sydney grade side Randwick-Petersham to meet Smith’s Sutherland this weekend.
The prospect comes after facing a South African bowling attack led by Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Imran Tahir when representing the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra last week.
And almost 12 months ago Sangha scored his maiden first-class ton, the youngest player to reach the milestone against England since Indian great Sachin Tendulkar, fronting up to Ashes visitors such as Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Craig Overton.
A break in the upcoming Shield schedule, with the Blues’ current third-round encounter against Tasmania due to finish on Thursday while next they take on Queensland in Canberra from Friday week (November 16), allows Sangha to be available for Randy Petes at Coogee Oval on Saturday.
Round five sees NSW travel to Perth to tackle Western Australia from November 27, which clashes with the three-day CAXI tour fixture at the SCG.
The last Shield round before Christmas has the Blues at home to South Australia from December 7.
Meanwhile, the eighth Big Bash League is due to start next month with Sangha’s Sydney Thunder up against the Melbourne Stars in Canberra on December 21.
