Round 7 brings about a whole round of single games with all eight sides playing once, so after last round’s chaos it will need craft to navigate but make sure you’re planning for Round 8 doubles.
The Hurricanes and Sixers have Round 8 doubles, before the latter have a Round 9 bye. The Strikers, Stars and Scorchers have Round 9 doubles.
Hobart Hurricanes v Adelaide Strikers
Monday January 2 7:15pm AEDT, Blundstone Arena
Hurricanes
Ben McDermott is fit again and should slot into the top order rpelacing Caleb Jewell, while Jimmy Neesham’s stint is over with Pakistani bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf to come into the side. His bowling ability puts Joel Paris’ spot in some doubt after poor form, if the struggling Canes opt for an extra batsman such as Caleb Jewell or Mac Wright.
Ins: Ben McDermott, Faheem Ashraf
Outs: Caleb Jewell, Jimmy Neesham
Unavailable: Jimmy Neesham (stint over), Billy Stanlake (hamstring)
1 D.Short
2 B.McDermott
3 M.Wade
4 Shadab Khan
5 T.David
6 Asif Ali
7 Faheem Ashraf
8 J.Paris
9 N.Ellis
10 P.Dooley
11 R.Meredith
12th C.Tremain
Strikers
The Strikers suffered a shock loss to the Stars on New Year’s Eve but it’s hard to picture any changes to their line-up.
No changes
Unavailable: Travis Head (Test duty), Alex Carey (Test duty), Cameron Boyce (calf), Jake Weatherald (abdomen)
1 M.Short
2 H.Hunt
3 C.Lynn
4 A.Hose
5 C.de Grandhomme
6 T.Kelly
7 H.Nielsen
8 Rashid Khan
9 H.Thornton
10 W.Agar
11 P.Siddle
12th B.Manenti
Melbourne Stars v Melbourne Renegades
Tuesday January 3 7:15pm AEDT, MCG
Stars
Nathan Coulter-Nile’s fitness will be a factor after missing last game with “hamstring tightness” but Liam Hatcher impressed in his absence, so there’s no need for any risks. Tom Rogers is named in the Stars’ 16-man squad despite a shoulder injury that prevented him from fielding last game, so we’d expect him to miss, which means a likely re-shuffle in the batting line-up with James Seymour or Clint Hinchliffe to come in. Campbell Kellaway deserves to face more balls so should be elevated.
Ins: James Seymour
Outs: Tom Rogers
Unavailable: Glenn Maxwell (broken leg), Joe Burns (hamstring), Nathan Coulter-Nile (hamstring), Tom Rogers (shoulder)
1 J.Clarke
2 N.Larkin
3 B.Webster
4 M.Stoinis
5 C.Kellaway
6 H.Cartwright
7 J.Seymour
8 L.Wood
9 L.Hatcher
10 T.Boult
11 A.Zampa
12th C.Hinchliffe
Renegades
The Gades have lost four in a row now, so there’s going to need to be some changes, plus they have injury worries. Nic Maddinson appeared to suffer a serious knee injury so he’ll miss with Shaun Marsh to return after being managed. Peter Handscomb went off after heat exhaustion so Sam Harper may come into the side for him, but that’s unclear. Handscomb hasn’t really done enough with the bat to warrant holding his spot if there’s any doubt.
Imports Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Akeal Hosein both have two more games, including this one, before heading to the ILT20.
Ins: Shaun Marsh, Sam Harper
Outs: Nic Maddinson, Peter Handscomb
Unavailable: Marcus Harris (Test duty), Zac Evans (pectoral), Nic Maddinson (knee)
1 M.Guptill
2 S.Harper
3 S.Marsh
4 A.Finch
5 J.Wells
6 M.Harvey
7 A.Hosein
8 W.Sutherland
9 T.Rogers
10 K.Richardson
11 Mujeeb Ur Rahman
12th D.Moody
Sydney Sixers v Brisbane Heat
Wednesday January 4 6:05pm AEDT, North Sydney Oval
Sixers
English fast bowler Chris Jordan will return after being managed, so the question is who drops out, with Ben Dwarshuis, Jackson Bird and Hayden Kerr all in contention to be rested amid a busy schedule. North Sydney’s short boundaries may be a factor but they’ll likely want a spinner so Izharulhaq Naveed or Todd Murphy will play too. Daniel Hughes and Kurtis Patterson may swap places.
Ins: Chris Jordan, Todd Murphy
Outs: Jackson Bird, Ben Dwarshuis
Unavailable: Nathan Lyon (Test duty), Steve O’Keefe (hamstring)
1 J.Philippe
2 J.Vince
3 D.Hughes
4 M.Henriques
5 J.Silk
6 D.Christian
7 H.Kerr
8 S.Abbott
9 C.Jordan
10 T.Murphy
11 Izharulhaq Naveed
12th K.Patterson
Heat
It’s hard to see the Heat making any changes after a dominant win over the Sixers, headlined by Josh Brown and Nathan McSweeney dominating with the bat. Spinner Mitch Swepson continues to struggle but should hold his spot at this venue.
No changes
Unavailable: Marnus Labuschagne (Test duty), Usman Khawaja (Test duty), Matt Renshaw (Test duty)
1 J.Brown
2 C.Munro
3 N.McSweeney
4 S.Billings
5 J.Peirson
6 R.Whiteley
7 J.Bazley
8 M.Neser
9 M.Steketee
10 M.Kuhnemann
11 M.Swepson
12th M.Bryant
Perth Scorchers v Sydney Thunder
Wednesday January 4 6:15pm WST/9:15pm AEDT, Optus Stadium
Scorchers
The Scorchers are flying so it’s hard to see them making any wholesale changes, before they likely experiment a bit once Faf du Plessis and Adam Lyth both head to the SA-20 and ILT20 comps. Nick Hobson’s spot isn’t secure, but if they were going to drop him, it would’ve been last game.
No changes
Unavailable: Cameron Green (finger), Mitch Marsh (ankle), Phil Salt (shoulder), Tymal Mills (personal), Lance Morris (Test duty), Ashton Agar (Test duty)
1 A.Lyth
2 F.du Plessis
3 C.Bancroft
4 J.Inglis
5 A.Turner
6 N.Hobson
7 A.Hardie
8 J.Richardson
9 A.Tye
10 J.Behrendorff
11 P.Hatzoglou
12th M.Kelly
Thunder
Daniel Sams is out of this game with a groin strain and it’s hard to know how the Thunder will cover him, given his multi-dimensional game. Sam Whiteman or Joel Davies may come in to beef up the batting, with suitable all-round options already available, while spinner Toby Gray is an option but they’re unlikely to play three spinners at Optus Stadium. We’re going with Davies over the experienced Whiteman given his middle-order ability.
Ins: Joel Davies
Outs: Daniel Sams
Unavailable: David Warner (Test duty), Tanveer Sangha (back), Jason Sangha (collarbone) Fazalhaq Farooqi (contract terminated), Gurinder Sandhu (calf), Daniel Sams (groin)
1 A.Hales
2 M.Gilkes
3 R.Rossouw
4 O.Davies
5 A.Ross
6 J.Davies
7 B.Cutting
8 N.McAndrew
9 C.Green
10 B.Doggett
11 Usman Qadir
12th J.Davies
