The Ben McDermott mayhem of Round 6 is done and we’re straight into Round 7 with no byes or doubles, so to help you navigate your way we’ve assessed the likely XIs this round.
Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars – Thursday 7:15pm AEDT @ Marvel Stadium
Scorchers
English paceman Tymal Mills will likely return for Perth after being rested against the Thunder. Matt Kelly replaced him in the XI and would be stiff to miss out having taken eight wickets in three BBL|11 games. Spinner Peter Hatzoglou was subbed out against the Thunder and could be the one to make way after a dip in form.
Probable Ins: T.Mills
Probable Outs: P.Hatzoglou
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 M.Kelly
10 J.Behrendorff
11 T.Mills
12th C.Bancroft/P.Hatzoglou
Stars
Andre Russell’s stint with the Stars is over, so Pakistani speedster Haris Rauf comes in to bolster their attack. They’re not a like-for-like so the Stars may add Nick Larkin to beef up their middle-order, given Beau Webster’s struggles this season but the latter is more suited to batting in that role. Joe Clarke had a hamstring worry last game and is no lock to play, with Peter Nevill waiting in the wings if need be.
Probable Ins: Haris Rauf
Probable Outs: A.Russell
Unavailable: B.Stanlake (inj), S.Gotch (inj), L.Hatcher (inj), A.Russell (stint over)
1 M.Stoinis
2 J.Clarke (wk)
3 J.Burns
4 G.Maxwell
5 H.Cartwright
6 B.Webster
7 N.Coulter-Nile
8 A.Zampa
9 Qais Ahmad
10 Haris Rauf
11 B.Couch
12th S.Rainbird/N.Larkin
Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Thunder – Friday 7:15pm AEDT @ Adelaide Oval
Strikers
Dan Worrall and Wes Agar are set to continue their game of musical chairs in the Adelaide line-up after the latter’s 0-44 from 3.3 overs last game. Despite their ordinary form, the Strikers lack the depth to change things up too much.
Probable Ins: D.Worrall
Probable Outs: W.Agar
Unavailable: A.Carey (Ashes), T.Head (Ashes), R.Gibson (inj)
1 J.Weatherald
2 M.Short
3 M.Renshaw
4 J.Wells
5 T.Kelly
6 H.Nielsen (wk)
7 G.Garton
8 Rashid Khan
9 D.Worrall
10 P.Siddle
11 Fawad Ahmed
12th H.Hunt/W.Agar
Thunder
Ollie Davies was the X-factor last game after recovering from a thumb injury and may come into the side to replace Matthew Gilkes after scores of 2, 6, 28 and 7 in his past four games. Fast bowler Brendan Doggett is also back in contention after a side injury but the Thunder’s attack appears settled.
Probable Ins: O.Davies
Probable Outs: M.Gilkes
Unavailable: U.Khawaja (Ashes)
1 A.Hales
2 O.Davies
3 J.Sangha
4 S.Billings (wk)
5 A.Ross
6 D.Sams
7 B.Cutting
8 N.McAndrew
9 C.Green
10 S.Mahmood
11 T.Sangha
12th M.Gilkes/B.Doggett
Hobart Hurricanes v Brisbane Heat – Saturday 1pm AEDT @ Blundstone Arena
Hurricanes
After a tough early fixture, Hobart have won three on the spin and are unlikely to make any changes. Scott Boland is unlikely to be released from the Test squad for this New Year’s Day game, but Jordan Thompson would be most likely to make way when/if he returns.
Probable Ins/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
Heat
Jack Wildermuth impressed as X-factor last game, scoring 27 and taking 2-18 so he needs to come into the XI, with spinner Matt Kuhnemann set to unluckily lose his spot, given the Heat bowlers were good against the Sixers. Brisbane’s batting line-up is struggling but there’s few options to turn to except youngster Nathan McSweeney.
Probable Ins: J.Wildermuth
Probable Outs: M.Kuhnemann
Unavailable: M.Labuschagne (Ashes), C.Sully (inj), M.Willans (inj), M.Neser (Ashes), M.Swepson (Ashes), T.Abell (inj)
1 C.Lynn
2 J.Peirson (wk)
3 T.Cooper
4 B.Duckett
5 S.Heazlett
6 M.Bryant
7 J.Wildermuth
8 J.Bazley
9 X.Bartlett
10 M.Steketee
11 Mujeeb Ur Rahman
12th L.Guthrie/N.McSweeney
Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Renegades – Saturday 4:30pm AEDT @ Coffs Harbour
Sixers
The Sixers are top of the table and unlikely to make changes despite a poor batting display against the Heat. Jackson Bird is getting closer to a return from an Achilles injury but this seems too soon.
Probable Ins/Outs: None
Doubtful: J.Bird (inj)
Unavailable: 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 S.Abbott
9 Shadab Khan
10 B.Dwarshuis
11 L.Pope
12th M.Edwards/T.Murphy
Renegades
The Gades are bottom of the table with a 1-5 record but they don’t have the depth to make wholesale changes. Jack Prestwidge and Will Sutherland could swap again but that feels like moving the deck chairs. Kane Richardson was belted by the Canes but won’t be dropped. Shaun Marsh is close to returning from a calf injury which would likely force Jake Fraser-McGurk out but this game is probably too early for the injury-prone veteran.
Probable Ins/Outs: None
Doubtful: S.Marsh (inj)
Unavailable: M.Harris (Ashes), C.Boyce (inj)
1 S.Harper (wk)
2 A.Finch
3 N.Maddinson
4 M.Harvey
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
