Round 2 is done but it’s a quick turnaround in SuperCoach BBL, with Round 3 starting on Sunday, so to help you navigate your trades (note the Melbourne Stars have the double and play first) we’ve assessed the likely XIs this round.

Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars

These sides met on Friday with the Stars winning in a close game, so don’t anticipate too many changes, if any. Gurinder Sandhu went without a wicket but should hold his spot ahead of Chris Tremain.

For the Stars, young paceman Brody Couch is the only query, with Sam Rainbird potentially re-claiming a spot, but the youngster has taken three wickets in two games so should hold.

Thunder

Probable In/Out: No changes

Unavailable: B.Doggett (inj), O.Davies (inj), U.Khawaja (Ashes), S.Mahmood (Eng Lions)

1 A.Hales
2 S.Whiteman
3 M.Gilkes
4 S.Billings (wk)
5 A.Ross
6 D.Sams
7 B.Cutting
8 N.McAndrew
9 C.Green
10 G.Sandhu
11 T.Sangha
12th J.Sangha/C.Tremain

Stars

Probable In/Out: No changes

Unavailable: B.Stanlake (inj), J.Burns (inj), S.Gotch (inj), L.Hatcher (inj), Syed Faridoun (import quota), Ahmad Daniyal (import quota)

1 M.Stoinis
2 J.Clarke (wk)
3 N.Larkin
4 G.Maxwell
5 H.Cartwright
6 B.Webster
7 A.Russell
8 N.Coulter-Nile
9 A.Zampa
10 Qais Ahmad
11 B.Couch
12th S.Rainbird/C.Hinchliffe

Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Renegades

Monday’s game on the Gold Coast could see mass changes with the Australia A game in Brisbane concluding on Sunday. Heat’s English import Tom Abell is likely to be made available, along with Gades batsman Nic Maddinson.

But the Heat will need to monitor the workloads of bowling trio Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson and Michael Neser to gauge their availability. Neser seems the most unlikely to be available with doubts about Josh Hazlewood for the Second Test, having a trickle-on effect. Jack Wildermuth may struggle to get back in while cheapie Liam Guthrie will lose his spot if Steketee and Swepson play. James Bazley would probably make way if Neser plays.

Tom Cooper should be the one to make way for Abell, although Max Bryant isn’t 100% safe given his form. Sam Heazlett could shuffle up to open if Bryant is axed.

The Gades welcome back Maddinson, who should simply slot in for Jono Merlo. Aaron Finch will miss the game, meaning Jake Fraser-McGurk and James Seymour should hold their spots.

Heat

Probable Ins: T.Abell, M.Swepson, M.Steketee

Probable Outs: T.Cooper, C.Gannon, L.Guthrie

Doubtful: M.Neser (Ashes)

Unavailable: M.Labuschagne (Ashes), C.Sully (inj), M.Willans (inj)

1 C.Lynn
2 M.Bryant
3 B.Duckett
4 S.Heazlett
5 T.Abell
6 J.Peirson (wk)
7 J.Bazley
8 X.Bartlett
9 M.Swepson
10 M.Steketee
11 Mujeeb Ur Rahman
12th J.Wildermuth/L.Guthrie

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Renegades

Probable Ins: N.Maddinson

Probable Outs: J.Merlo

Unavailable: M.Harris (Ashes), S.Marsh (inj), U.Chand (import quota), A.Finch (inj)

1 M.Harvey
2 S.Harper (wk)
3 J.Fraser-McGurk
4 J.Seymour
5 N.Maddinson
6 Mohammad Nabi
7 W.Sutherland
8 J.Pattinson
9 K.Richardson
10 R.Topley
11 Zahir Khan
12th J.Prestwidge/J.Merlo

Hobart Hurricanes v Perth Scorchers

There’s more players returning for Tuesday’s game in Tasmania, with the Hurricanes boosted by English middle-order bat Harry Brook and Australia A fast bowler Scott Boland. Fellow import Tom Lammonby will make way for Brook, while Tom Rogers could be the unlucky to miss out despite Hobart beating the Sydney Sixers on Saturday. Josh Kann will probably be 12^th man again after being X-factored in.

The Scorchers will welcome back Mitch Marsh and Josh Inglis from Australia A duty while English death overs specialist Tymal Mills is available after serving his quarantine, creating huge dilemmas for a side 2-0. Marsh replaces Aaron Hardie, while Inglis will come, with either Cameron Bancroft, Kurtis Patterson and Laurie Evans the unlucky one to miss. Evans was scratchy in Perth’s first game while the other two have both had good knocks so the Englishman could be on the end of a tough call.

Likewise, Mills’ role as a specialist death overs bowler could mean Matt Kelly cruelly misses out, despite his 4fa in Perth’s first game. Peter Hatzoglou proved his worth with 1-26 against the Strikers on Saturday and Perth like having him in their side alongside Ashton Agar to balance their attack. There is scope Perth may rest one of their bowlers too, with Jason Behrendorff’s durability always needing to be managed.

Hurricanes

Probable Ins: H.Brook, S.Boland

Probable Outs: T.Lammonby, T.Rogers

Unavailable: R.Meredith (inj), B.McDermott (inj), M.Owen (inj), J.Cox (import quota)

1 M.Wade (wk)
2 D.Short
3 P.Handscomb
4 C.Jewell
5 H.Brook
6 T.David
7 J.Thompson
8 N.Ellis
9 J.Paris
10 S.Boland
11 Sandeep Lamichhane
12th J.Kann/W.Parker

Josh Inglis ($133k WKP/BAT), Mitch Marsh ($132k BAT/BWL)@ScorchersBBL coach Adam Voges: "We'll get Mitch Marsh and Josh Inglis back for our next game in Hobart."#SuperCoachBBL #SuperCoach #BBL #BBL11

— Honeyball BBL 🏏 (@HoneyballBBL) December 10, 2021

Scorchers

Probable Ins: M.Marsh, J.Inglis, T.Mills

Probable: Outs: A.Hardie, L.Evans, M.Kelly

Unavailable: L.Morris (inj), C.Connolly (inj), J.Richardson (Ashes)

1 C.Munro
2 C.Bancroft
3 M.Marsh
4 J.Inglis (wk)
5 A.Turner
6 K.Patterson
7 A.Agar
8 A.Tye
9 J.Behrendorff
10 P.Hatzoglou
11 T.Mills
12th L.Evans/M.Kelly

Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers

The Stars double up this round, so their line-up for Wednesday’s game will be affected by Sunday’s round opener, but Joe Burns could be in contention by then to come into their middle order.

The Sixers line-up is in flux with a wealth of options, only made more complex by Ben Dwarshuis’ probable return from a side strain. Sean Abbott seems unlikely to travel with the impending birth of his child, so he may miss, meaning Hayden Kerr may hold his spot despite a bit-part role on Saturday against the Canes. Ben Manenti is out for the season, so Lloyd Pope could be considered too.

Stars

Probable In/Out: No changes

Doubtful: J.Burns (inj)

Unavailable: B.Stanlake (inj), S.Gotch (inj), L.Hatcher (inj), Syed Faridoun (import quota), Ahmad Daniyal (import quota)

1 M.Stoinis
2 J.Clarke (wk)
3 N.Larkin
4 G.Maxwell
5 H.Cartwright
6 B.Webster
7 A.Russell
8 N.Coulter-Nile
9 A.Zampa
10 Qais Ahmad
11 B.Couch
12th S.Rainbird/C.Hinchliffe

❌ Ben Manenti ($82k BWL)@SixersBBL bowler Manenti: "Absolutely shattered to have my BBL over just as it has just begun having been ruled out with a stress fracture in my neck."#SuperCoach #BBL #BBL11 https://t.co/018g1414i5

— Honeyball BBL 🏏 (@HoneyballBBL) December 10, 2021

Sixers

Probable Ins: B.Dwarshuis

Probable Outs: S.Abbott

Doubtful: B.Dwarshuis (inj)

Unavailable: J.Bird (inj), N.Lyon (Ashes), B.Manenti (inj)

1 J.Philippe (wk)
2 J.Vince
3 D.Hughes
4 M.Henriques
5 J.Silk
6 D.Christian
7 T.Curran
8 C.Jordan
9 H.Kerr
10 B.Dwarshuis
11 S.O’Keefe
12th J.Edwards/L.Pope

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