Norths left-hander Brendan Nash was today confirmed as the XXXX Queensland Bulls' latest Mercantile Mutual Cup debutant with leading batsman Martin Love ruled out of Friday's clash with Tasmania at the Gabba with a hamstring strain.

Team medical staff elected not to push Love's return from the injury, suffered in last week's one day match at the MCG, with the Queensland selectors opting to elevate Nash straight into the starting line-up after including him in a squad of 13 yesterday.

Nash, 23, becomes the third player from the Norths club to make his domestic one day debut this season, following allrounders James Hopes and Nathan Hauritz into the Bulls ranks.

However Hopes will face a fitness test at training on Thursday morning after suffering a hamstring injury yesterday while playing for the Queensland Academy of Sport against the Victorian 2nd XI in their ACB Cup match at Allan Border Field. A stand-by player has not been nominated at this stage.

Nash, who also bowls left-arm medium pace, was pressed into service today as a stand-in wicket-keeper for the QAS after debutant wicket-keeper Chris Hartley suffered a suspected broken thumb.

Of West Indian heritage, Nash and his family moved to Australia from Jamaica when he was a baby and have lived in Perth, Cairns and Brisbane. He attended Nudgee College in 1993 and 1994 and was the leading runs-scorer in the Brisbane XXXX First grade competition last season.

XXXX Queensland Bulls v Tasmanian Tigers, Friday, Mercantile Mutual Cup, Gabba, 2.30pm:

XXXX Queensland Bulls Stuart Law (c), Jimmy Maher, Matthew Hayden, Lee Carseldine, Brendan Nash, James Hopes, Wade Seccombe, Andy Bichel, Nathan Hauritz, Michael Kasprowicz, Adam Dale, Ashley Noffke (all twelve to be named).

© 2001 Queensland Cricket