Round 5 is done and we’re straight into Round 6 with a double-header on Monday with the Heat and the Hurricnaes on doubles, so to help you navigate your way we’ve assessed the likely XIs this round.
Hobart Hurricanes v Adelaide Strikers – Monday 6:05pm AEDT @ Blundstone Arena
Hurricanes
The Hurricanes enjoyed a good win last time out against the Stars meaning they will be reluctant to make changes. Scott Boland’s Test call-up has firmed up Tom Rogers and Jordan Thompson’s job security, although the latter will need to perform to continue to hold his spot. There’s an argument Peter Handscomb could make way for Caleb Jewell, who was unlucky to lose his spot. Expect Ben McDermott to open again, with D’Arcy Short at three.
Probable Ins: None
Probable Outs: None
Unavailable: J.Paris (inj), S.Boland (Ashes)
1 M.Wade (wk)
2 B.McDermott
3 D.Short
4 P.Handscomb
5 H.Brook
6 T.David
7 J.Thompson
8 N.Ellis
9 T.Rogers
10 R.Meredith
11 Sandeep Lamichhane
12th C.Jewell/W.Parker
Strikers
The Strikers are struggling with a 1-4 record but don’t have the depth of personnel to be making mass changes. However, we’re foreseeing out-of-form Jake Weatherald being moved in the batting order, similar to last season, with someone like Matt Renshaw or plausibly Harry Nielsen elevated to open. The bowling line-up is a raffle with Daniel Worrall unlucky to lose his spot to Wes Agar last game.
Probable Ins: None
Probable Outs: None
Unavailable: A.Carey (Ashes), T.Head (Ashes), R.Gibson (inj)
1 M.Renshaw
2 M.Short
3 J.Weatherald
4 J.Wells
5 T.Kelly
6 H.Nielsen (wk)
7 G.Garton
8 Rashid Khan
9 W.Agar
10 P.Siddle
11 Fawad Ahmed
12th H.Hunt/D.Worrall
Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars – Monday 9:05pm AEDT @ Gabba
Heat
Brisbane are on a double so are of particular interest this round and have a SuperCoach-relevant selection squeeze among their bowlers with Xavier Bartlett surprisingly dropped last round. The Heat won, so may be reluctant to make many changes, with Liam Guthrie looking most vulnerable after a wicket-less game combined with some poor outfield fielding, however he does offer variety with his left-arm pace. Spinner Matt Kuhnemann may also make way for Bartlett pending conditions but he did take a 3fa last game. Jack Wildermuth is also fit again, as another option in the mix. It’s genuinely tough to call which way the Heat will go.
Probable Ins: X.Bartlett
Probable Outs: L.Guthrie
Unavailable: M.Labuschagne (Ashes), C.Sully (inj), M.Willans (inj), M.Neser (Ashes), M.Swepson (Ashes), T.Abell (inj)
1 C.Lynn
2 M.Bryant
3 T.Cooper
4 B.Duckett
5 S.Heazlett
6 J.Peirson (wk)
7 J.Bazley
8 X.Bartlett
9 M.Steketee
10 M.Kuhnemann
11 Mujeeb Ur Rahman
12th L.Guthrie/J.Wildermuth
Stars
Adam Zampa will return to replace Clint Hinchliffe as the Stars’ chief spin option. Nick Larkin was desperately unlucky to lose his spot to Joe Burns but Beau Webster’s middling form could offer Larkin a reprieve in a middle-order batting role. This is Andre Russell’s last game, with Haris Rauf available after that.
Probable Ins: A.Zampa, N.Larkin
Probable Outs: C.Hinchliffe, B.Webster
Unavailable: B.Stanlake (inj), S.Gotch (inj), L.Hatcher (inj)
1 M.Stoinis
2 J.Clarke (wk)
3 J.Burns
4 G.Maxwell
5 N.Larkin
6 H.Cartwright
7 A.Russell
8 N.Coulter-Nile
9 A.Zampa
10 Qais Ahmad
11 B.Couch
12th S.Rainbird/B.Webster
Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers – Tuesday 7:15pm AEDT @ Manuka Oval
Thunder
The Thunder went down to the reigning champions in a rain-affected Sydney Smash where their batting and late-overs bowling let them down. Nathan McAndrew feels at risk after two wicket-less games with Gurinder Sandhu waiting in the wings. Sam Whiteman and Ollie Davies, who is close to returning from a thumb injury, could bolster the batting line-up but Jason Sangha has firmed up his spot with two excellent games meaning he’s not at risk. Both Matt Gilkes and Ben Cutting should hold for now, but need some runs to firm up their JS.
Probable Ins: G.Sandhu
Probable Outs: N.McAndrew
Doubtful: O.Davies (inj)
Unavailable: B.Doggett (inj), U.Khawaja (Ashes)
1 A.Hales
2 M.Gilkes
3 J.Sangha
4 S.Billings (wk)
5 A.Ross
6 D.Sams
7 B.Cutting
8 C.Green
9 G.Sandhu
10 S.Mahmood
11 T.Sangha
12th S.Whiteman/N.McAndrew
Scorchers
Perth are purring along with a 6-0 record so it’s unlikely they will change much, although the Thunder loom as their biggest test so far this season. As a result, Kurtis Patterson should return after they cautiously left him out for two games with quad tightness. Cameron Bancroft will likely make way for him. There’s a flag on Peter Hatzoglou’s job security too, with Matt Kelly potentially replacing him after two expensive games.
Probable Ins: K.Patterson
Probable Outs: C.Bancroft
Doubtful: K.Patterson (inj)
Unavailable: C.Connolly (U19 World Cup), J.Richardson (Ashes)
1 K.Patterson
2 J.Inglis (wk)
3 M.Marsh
4 C.Munro
5 A.Turner
6 L.Evans
7 A.Agar
8 A.Tye
9 J.Behrendorff
10 P.Hatzoglou
11 T.Mills
12th C.Bancroft/M.Kelly
Sydney Sixers v Brisbane Heat – Wednesday 6:05pm @ SCG
Sixers
Pakistani import Shadab Khan should be available by Wednesday to debut, replacing Todd Murphy who was X-factored out in the Sydney Smash. Mickey Edwards was good as X-factor but it’s hard to find a spot for him in the Sixers XI given how well they are going.
Probable Ins: Shadab Khan
Probable Outs: T.Murphy
Unavailable: J.Bird (inj), N.Lyon (Ashes), B.Manenti (inj), T.Curran (inj), S.O’Keefe (inj), C.Jordan (stint over)
1 J.Philippe (wk)
2 J.Vince
3 D.Hughes
4 M.Henriques
5 J.Silk
6 D.Christian
7 H.Kerr
8 Shadab Khan
9 S.Abbott
10 B.Dwarshuis
11 L.Pope
12th M.Edwards/T.Murphy
Brisbane Heat
The Heat line-up will be dictated by performance in their first game of this round but also keep an eye on Michael Neser and Mitch Swepson’s status, given they may be released from the Test squad. The Sydney Test doesn’t start until January 5.
Ins/Outs: Pending 1st game
Unavailable: M.Labuschagne (Ashes), C.Sully (inj), M.Willans (inj), M.Neser (Ashes), M.Swepson (Ashes), T.Abell (inj)
1 C.Lynn
2 M.Bryant
3 T.Cooper
4 B.Duckett
5 S.Heazlett
6 J.Peirson (wk)
7 J.Bazley
8 X.Bartlett
9 M.Steketee
10 Mujeeb Ur Rahman
11 L.Guthrie
12th N.McSweeney/J.Wildermuth
Melbourne Renegades v Hobart Hurricanes – Wednesday 7:15pm @ Marvel Stadium
Renegades
Kane Richardson missed the Gades’ second loss to Perth with illness and should return. Jack Prestwidge has usurped Will Sutherland as their best all-rounder and needs to play ahead of the youngster, who makes way for Richardson. Aaron Finch limped around in the field on Sunday with his knee worry, so monitor that. If he’s out, James Seymour may get a reprieve. This game will likely be too soon for Shaun Marsh who has linked up with the squad in Melbourne.
Probable Ins: K.Richardson
Probable Outs: W.Sutherland
Unavailable: M.Harris (Ashes), S.Marsh (inj), C.Boyce (inj)
1 M.Harvey
2 A.Finch
3 N.Maddinson
4 S.Harper (wk)
5 J.Fraser-McGurk
6 Mohammad Nabi
7 J.Prestwidge
8 J.Pattinson
9 K.Richardson
10 R.Topley
11 Zahir Khan
12th W.Sutherland/J.Merlo
Hurricanes
The Hurricanes line-up will be dictated by performance in their first game of this round.
Ins/Outs: Pending 1st Game
Unavailable: J.Paris (inj), S.Boland (Ashes)
1 M.Wade (wk)
2 D.Short
3 B.McDermott
4 P.Handscomb
5 H.Brook
6 T.David
7 J.Thompson
8 N.Ellis
9 T.Rogers
10 R.Meredith
11 Sandeep Lamichhane
12th C.Jewell/W.Parker
About The Author
Who is most likely to be dropped from the Heat bowling lineup if Neser / Swepson are realesed?