Finch confirmed to play, Abbott returns for Sixers, Strikers and Thunder make signings
Sean Abbott returned for the Sydney Sixers, the Adelaide Strikers announced a replacement signing, while Aaron Finch confirmed he will play this round and offered updates on Shaaun Marsh and James Pattinson.
TEAM NEWS
The Sydney Sixers named their 16-man squad to play the Adelaide Strikers on Tuesday, with Sean Abbott ($179k BWL) returning after his partner gave birth to their daughter.
Todd Murphy ($42k BWL) and Lawrence Neil-Smith ($42k BWL) were also added, with Tom Curran ($170k BAT/BWL) and Steve O’Keefe ($171k BWL) out injured.
The Strikers also named a 16-man squad including new replacement player Henry Hunt (BAT), as well as Matthew Renshaw ($67k BAT/BWL) and Spencer Johnson ($42k BWL).
Hunt is a top-order batsman, who made 60 for SA in the Marsh Cup last month and played for Australia A last week. He could slot into their top three or four. Harry Conway is unavailable and Daniel Drew is left out.
Sixers: Abbott, Christian, Dwarshuis, J.Edwards, M.Edwards, Henriques, Hughes, Jordan, Kerr, Murphy, Neil-Smith, Philippe, Pope, Silk, Vince, Winter
Strikers: Siddle (c), Agar, Fawad Ahmed, Garton, Hunt, Johnson, Kelly, Rashid Khan, Nielsen, O’Connor, Renshaw, Scott, Short, Weatherald, Wells, Worrall
UPDATES
The Melbourne Renegades confirmed that Aaron Finch ($62k BAT) will play on Wednesday against the Scorchers.
Finch said: “It’s (the knee) pretty good actually. I trained the other day. Batting felt good. I’ll play.”
The former Renegades skipper also offered an update on Shaun Marsh ($106k BAT) who is recovering from a calf injury. He said: “I haven’t seen Sos yet. He’s coming over (from Perth to Melbourne) after Christmas.”
Finch also provided an update on James Pattinson ($142k BWL) who missed the last game with soreness.
“He’s going to have a really good hit-out in the next couple of days to see where he’s at,” Finch said. “I’m not 100% sure if he’s likely to play. We’ll wait and see. It’s going to be touch and go with this game.”
The Sydney Thunder announced another new signing with Pakistani fast bowler Muhammad Hasnain ($125k BWL).
Thunder head of cricket Michael Klinger said: “He’s a fast bowler who bowls with extreme pace and has fantastic T20 skills and variations.”
Australia also announced their squad for the remaining three Test matches in the Ashes which was unchanged meaning the availability of Mitch Swepson ($163k BWL) remains unclear. Swepson is in the Test squad.
The Aussies have rest days on Tuesday and Wednesday before assembling in Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test. Swepson’s Heat play the Adelaide Strikers in Adelaide on Thursday.
