Sean Abbott set to return to cricket

Melbourne, Dec 8 (IANS) Pacer Sean Abbott, whose bouncer led to left-handed batsman Phillip Hughes's death Nov 27, is set to make a comeback to cricket after a fortnight. He will turn out for New South Wales (NSW) in a Sheffield Shield match against Queensland at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) starting Tuesday.

Also named in the squad of 12, is left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc.

However, the players have been given the option of withdrawing from the match if they feel that they are still not ready mentally for the challenge.

"If you’re injured and not ready to play physically, then you don’t play. I guess in this case you might not be ready to play mentally, so you’ve got to treat it the same way,” NSW skipper Moises Henriques was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

“He (Abbott)’s coping pretty well. 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 bowled a bouncer in his career,” Henriques added.

Abbott has received private and professional support and has decided he’s in a suitable frame of mind to play again at the SCG.