Steve O’Keefe appears unlikely to play in the Sydney Sixers’ first game of their Round 5 double despite being named in the squad, while the Melbourne Renegades have made four big changes.
TEAM NEWS
The Sydney Sixers named an unchanged 16-player squad to play the Renegades on Wednesday, with Chris Jordan ($125k BWL) absent again. Honeyball understands that Jordan is “day by day” with still a few boxes to tick to prove his fitness after injury.
Steve O’Keefe ($143k BWL) has also been named but will be assessed before the game having tweaked his hamstring in their Boxing Day win over the Melbourne Stars.
Sixers captain Moises Henriques said about O’Keefe after the Stars win: “With such a tight turnround, I’d be surprised if we push him for the next game. Given the depth of our bowling attack and how important he is to us, I’d be very surprised if he’s back for the next game.”
As for the Sixers bowling options, with players like Todd Murphy ($74k BWL), Naveen-ul-Haq ($99k BWL) and Ben Dwarshuis ($149k BWL) missing out, Henriques said: “I think all three of them could play comfortably. We’ve got Ben Dwarshuis sitting on the sidelines. We’ve got Naveen, an overseas seamer, sitting on the sidelines. If anything we need to start rotating through our bowlers given the quality we have sitting on the bench waiting to come in.”
The Renegades made four changes to their 14-man squad to face the Sixers, with Martin Guptill ($160k BAT) coming in to replace Andre Russell ($158k BAT/BWL) as their third import.
Peter Handscomb ($62k BAT/WKP) comes into the squad for Sam Harper ($83k WKP/BAT) as wicketkeeper, while Kane Richardson ($146k BWL) and Shaun Marsh ($121k BAT) are named. Jack Prestwidge ($80k BATL/BWL) and Jake Fraser-McGurk ($67k BAT) miss out.
The Gades update said: “Shaun Marsh has been named in the squad for the first time this season after overcoming a calf injury and Kane Richardson returns after missing the last match in Hobart.”
Sixers: Abbott, Bird, Christian, Dwarshuis, J.Edwards, Henriques, Hughes, Kerr, Naveen-ul-haq, Murphy, Izharulhaq Naveed, O’Keefe, Patterson, Philippe, Silk, Vince
Renegades: Maddinson (c), Finch, Guptill, Handscomb, Harvey, Hosein, Marsh, Moody, Richardson, Rocchiccioli, Rogers, Sutherland, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Wells
DPP CHANGES
Beau Webster ($149k BAT/BWL) was the only player to get a position added to his status, with the likes of Akeal Hosein ($207k BWL), Sean Abbott ($168k BWL) and Ross Whiteley ($92k BAT) missing out.
UPDATES
Chris Green was full of praise for Matthew Gilkes ($77k WKP/BAT) after his breakthrough display in BBL|12 in Tuesday’s win over the Brisbane Heat. Green said: “Stoked for him. He was very unlucky in the first two games. I think he complements Alex Hales well, I think he’ll complement David Warner. He’s a fantastic player, his glovework has been spot on tonight again.”
Green also hailed Pakistani spinner Usman Qadir ($109k BWL) after his debut display. He said: “Huge impact. I threw him under the bus, bowling at the death and he showed his class. He’s grown since he last played here in the BBL. He’s performed well for Pakistan and is a great inclusion for our squad.”
