Marcus Stoinis looks set to play for the Melbourne Stars on Friday after testing positive to Covid-19 earlier this week, while D’Arcy Short has been confirmed to return as an opener for the Hobart Hurricanes.
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The Melbourne Stars named a wider 15-man squad to face the Hobart Hurricanes on Friday, with Marcus Stoinis ($89k BAT/BWL) among them after contracting Covid-19 earlier this week.
Honeyball understands Stoinis trained well on Wednesday and is likely to play on Friday, having played on Tuesday with Covid-19 where he appeared visibly unwell and was unable to field. Stars coach Dave Hussey said on Thursday afternoon that he is quite hopeful that Stoinis will play.
James Seymour (BAT) comes in as a local replacement player for the injured Joe Burns ($62k BAT). Seymour played nine games for the Renegades in BBL|11 and has scored 403 runs in seven knocks at 67.2 for Essendon this Victoria Premier Cricket season.
On Burns, the Stars said: “Joe Burns has been left out of the squad as he awaits the results of scans on his injured hamstring.” Campbell Kellaway ($42k BAT) looms as his likely replacement.
Ins: Hatcher, Kellaway, Seymour
Outs: Burns
Stars: Zampa (c), Boult, Burns, Cartwright, Clarke, Couch, Coulter-Nile, Hinchliffe, Larkin, Rogers, Stoinis, Webster, Wood
The Hurricanes named their 13-man squad too, with Billy Stanlake ($68k BWL) not included after returning at club level following a long-term back issue.
Hurricanes: Asif Ali, David, Dooley, Ellis, Jewell, Shadab Khan, McDermott, Meredith, Neesham, Paris, Short, Tremain, Wade (c)
Players to miss out: Stanlake, Faheem Ashraf, Crawley, Wright, Owen, Parker, Carlisle
The Sydney Thunder named an unchanged 15-man squad to face the Adelaide Strikers on Friday night.
Thunder: Cutting, Davies, Doggett, Farooqi, Gilkes, Gray, Green, Hales, Holt, McAndrew, Ross, Rossouw, Sams, Sandhu, J.Sangha (c)
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D’Arcy Short ($148k BAT/BWL) will open for the Hobart Hurricanes, according to the club’s Head of Strategy Ricky Ponting who tipped him for a big season. Ponting said: “We’re going to open the batting with D’Arcy this year. He’s been up and down the order the last few seasons.”
Canes fast bowler Nathan Ellis talked up spinner Paddy Dooley ($62k BWL) who was named in their 13-man squad to face the Stars. Ellis said: “He’s got quite a unique action. He’s fitted in well. He’s bowled really well in training.
“I think he can be a really good asset, both alongside Shadab or when he leaves. I think he could bowled really well through the middle but also a really good power play option.”
New Zealand confirmed their Test squad for the upcoming series against Pakistan with Trent Boult ($180k BWL) along with all of the BBL’s NZ players all left out, meaning they’re free to remain available.
Usman Qadir’s ($105k BWL) arrival at the Thunder remains unclear, having played again on Wednesday in the Pakistan Cup for Southern Punjab. He took 0-31 from six overs.
