The cricketer who bowled the ball which led to the death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes could return to the sport tonight. 

Fast bowler Sean Abbott has been named in the New South Wales squad to face Queensland in the Sheffield Shield. 

The four-day match will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where Hughes was hit on the head by a bouncer which Abbott threw during a game 13 days ago.

Hughes died two days later due to injuries resulting from the blow.

“He (Abbott) is very positive about playing,” said New South Wales head coach Trevor Bayliss. “In fact I think a few of the other guys are more of a concern than Sean. So he’s handling himself very well.”