Victoria has parachuted uncontracted speedster David Moody into its squad for its must-win Sheffield Shield clash against Western Australia.
Victoria is second last on the table but is still able to book a place in the final with a win over Western Australia and other results falling its way.
Moody, 29, a former West Aussie and the nephew of ex-Test man Tom Moody, last played first-class cricket for WA against Victoria in 2023.
He moved to Victoria in pursuit of further state opportunities two seasons ago and has played at Melbourne in Victorian Premier Cricket.
Moody has played in Victoria’s Second XI across the season and captured 6-24 in the first innings against ACT earlier this week.
He was withdrawn from the second innings of that match as part of his Shield call-up.
Talk of Moody’s elevation into the state side increased during a Second XI match against Western Australia at Junction Oval in February.
While Moody did not take a wicket on the final day, sources suggested he reached speeds as high as 145km/h.
Moody is not the only change to Victoria’s squad, with veteran Peter Siddle and captain Will Sutherland also set to return.
Sutherland missed Victoria’s last match against South Australia managing a back issue.
It could be Siddle’s final match at first-class level after he told this masthead in January that he would retire from the longer format at season’s end.
Siddle and Sutherland return to the squad at the expense of Sam Elliott and Xavier Crone.