Round 8 looms as absolute chaos with 10 Melbourne Stars players ruled out due to COVID-19 with six replacements signed on their DGW, while the Hobart Hurricanes have the bye.

Melbourne Stars v Perth Scorchers – Sunday 3:30pm AEDT @ Junction Oval

Stars

Chaos has descended on the Stars with 10 players testing positive to COVID-19 forcing wholesale changes and six replacement players to be signed. It’s tough to call their likely line-up, given that volatility but weighing up balance and skill sets, here’s our predicted XI.

Justin Avendano has BBL experience with the Sixers and looks likely to get the nod to open with Joe Clarke. Ringwood’s Tom Rogers (not to be confused with the Hurricanes bowler of the same name) is in good run scoring at the top of the order, while Charlie Wakim is an experienced player who can reassure their middle order and Lachlan Bangs offers some all-round ability.

Probable Ins: J.Avendano, T.Rogers, C.Wakim, L.Bangs, T.O’Connell, Haris Rauf

Probable Outs: M.Stoinis, J.Burns, A.Russell, B.Webster, N.Coulter-Nile, A.Zampa

Unavailable: B.Stanlake (inj), S.Gotch (inj), L.Hatcher (inj), A.Russell (stint over), J.Burns, N.Coulter-Nile, S.Elliott, C.Hinchliffe, N.Larkin, P.Nevill, S.Rainbird, B.Webster, A.Zampa, M.Stoinis (all COVID-19).

1 J.Avendano
2 J.Clarke (wk)
3 T.Rogers
4 G.Maxwell
5 H.Cartwright
6 C.Wakim
7 L.Bangs
8 T.O’Connell
9 Qais Ahmad
10 Haris Rauf
11 B.Couch
12th P.Rowe/X.Crone

Scorchers

The Scorchers have a few COVID-19 issues too, with Nick Hobson ruled out after a positive test while Matt Kelly was a close contact so he’ll drop out with English paceman Tymal Mills likely to return after being rested against the Thunder. Mitch Marsh and Josh Inglis are also out after Ashes squad call-ups but Aaron Hardie and Cameron Bancroft are suitable replacements, albeit not at the same level of quality. Colin Munro should shuffle into Marsh’s role at first drop.

Probable Ins: T.Mills, A.Hardie, C.Bancroft

Probable Outs: M.Kelly, M.Marsh, J.Inglis

Unavailable: C.Connolly (U19 World Cup), J.Richardson (Ashes), M.Marsh (Ashes), J.Inglis (Ashes), N.Hobson (COVID-19), M.Kelly (close contact)

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

Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers – Sunday 7:15pm AEDT @ Sydney Showground

The Thunder are missing four players due to COVID-19 but still managed to win in Adelaide on New Year’s Eve and thus are unlikely to make any changes. Ben Cutting as an opener seemed to work well so they’ll likely persist.

Thunder

Probable Ins/Outs: None

Unavailable: U.Khawaja (Ashes), S.Whiteman, T.Sangha, A.Hales, A.Ross (all COVID-19)

1 M.Gilkes
2 B.Cutting
3 J.Sangha
4 S.Billings (wk)
5 O.Davies
6 D.Sams
7 A.Nair
8 N.McAndrew
9 C.Green
10 B.Doggett
11 S.Mahmood
12th G.Sandhu/L.Hearne

Strikers

The Strikers are struggling but bereft of options given their lack of squad depth. Henry Hunt is a chance to play but all their batsmen have been serviceable without being great. It’s time for some tough calls but there’s just nowhere to turn.

Probable Ins/Outs: None

Unavailable: A.Carey (Ashes), T.Head (Ashes), R.Gibson (inj), S.Johnson (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

Melbourne Stars v Melbourne Renegades – Monday 7:15pm AEDT @ MCG

Stars

Joe Clarke and Tom Rogers performed well on Sunday but unfortunately have tested positive for COVID-19 ruling them out. Victorian opener Travis Dean will come into calculations to open along with ex-Sixers bat Justin Avendano. Patrick Rowe will take the gloves while Ahmad Daniyal comes into the squad as the third import which will probably force Xavier Crone out for balance.

Probable Ins: P.Rowe, T.Dean, Ahmad Daniyal

Probable Outs: J.Clarke, T.Rogers (both COVID-19), X.Crone

Unavailable: B.Stanlake (inj), S.Gotch (inj), L.Hatcher (inj), A.Russell (stint over), J.Burns, N.Coulter-Nile, S.Elliott, C.Hinchliffe, N.Larkin, P.Nevill, S.Rainbird, B.Webster, A.Zampa, M.Stoinis (all COVID-19).

1 J.Avendano
2 T.Dean
3 G.Maxwell
4 H.Cartwright
5 C.Wakim
6 P.Rowe
7 T.O’Connell
8 Qais Ahmad
9 Ahmad Daniyal
10 Haris Rauf
11 B.Couch
12th L.Bangs/X.Crone

Renegades

The Gades had their New Year’s Day game with the Sixers abandoned but James Seymour had replaced Nic Maddinson in that line-up after his Australia call-up, but the skipper is surprisingly back and available.

Seymour will drop out for Maddinson, while Jake Fraser-McGurk would make way if Shaun Marsh is available as he closes in on a return from a calf injury. James Pattinson’s availability is still unclear due to COVID-19 concerns. Will Sutherland would make way for him if available to play.

Probable Ins: S.Marsh, N.Maddinson

Probable Outs: J.Seymour, J.Fraser-McGurk

Doubtful: S.Marsh (inj), J.Pattinson (close contact)

Unavailable: M.Harris (Ashes), C.Boyce (inj), N.Maddinson (Ashes)

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

Brisbane Heat v Sydney Sixers – Tuesday 7:15pm AEDT @ Metricon Stadium

The Heat enjoyed a good win last time out so don’t expect many changes. Liam Guthrie was in the XI but was X-factored out for Jack Wildermuth who they may just start this time. New signing Fakhar Zaman’s stint doesn’t begin until January 6 game.

Heat

Probable Ins: J.Wildermuth

Probable Outs: L.Guthrie

Unavailable: M.Labuschagne (Ashes), C.Sully (inj), M.Willans (inj), M.Neser (Ashes), M.Swepson (Ashes), T.Abell (inj), Fakhar Zaman

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

Sixers

Steve O’Keefe and Jackson Bird are back from injury for the Sixers complicating their likely XI. O’Keefe replaced Lloyd Pope in their XI for the abandoned Renegades game. Bird may struggle to break in given the Sixers’ good form.

Probable Ins/Outs: None

Unavailable: N.Lyon (Ashes), B.Manenti (inj), T.Curran (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 S.O’Keefe
12th J.Bird/T.Murphy