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Redbacks roll out identical cricket twins

Scott BaileyAAP
Jason Gillespie says its exciting to have twins Thomas and Corey Kelly play in the same SA team.
Camera IconJason Gillespie says its exciting to have twins Thomas and Corey Kelly play in the same SA team. Credit: AAP

Thomas and Corey Kelly are poised to become the first twins to play cricket together for South Australia, with the former named to debut against Queensland on Sunday.

Separated by just two minutes at birth, Thomas' debut comes eight months after Corey's first one-day domestic game against Western Australia last summer.

The sons of former Adelaide Crows AFL player Matthew, the identical duo are the first to run out together in South Australia's 134-year history.

Norman and Laurence Walsh previously played for the Redbacks between 1923 and 1930 but never featured in the same team.

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Alex and Kate Blackwell are the last identical twins to have played together in Australian cricket, with Mark and Steve Waugh the most-famous non-identical pairing among the men.

"I just can't wait. To have this opportunity is so great," Corey said.

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"We are going to be playing alongside not only each other, but some of our heroes growing up. It's going to be unreal.

"Pre-season and the summer so far has been a real eye-opener; I had to put in some hard work after a shoulder injury late last season.

"All the boys have been great; it is a new-look squad this year and everyone is loving it."

Thomas will make his debut as a middle-order batsman while Corey has played five games as a medium-pacer.

"This is so exciting for South Australian cricket; it is just such a positive story," coach Jason Gillespie said.

"Thomas and Corey have worked so hard to get to this point, they have earned their place."

Alex Carey has another chance to impress selectors in the Adelaide Oval clash, following Tim Paine's decision to step down from the national team.

Usman Khawaja and Travis Head also face another bat-off after Head scored a century in the most recent Sheffield Shield clash.

The trio will all enter Australia's Ashes camp in Brisbane on Monday, before an intrasquad game starting Wednesday.

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