Round 8 is here with the Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Sixers on double game rounds, amid a glut of players leaving or about to leave for the SA-20 and ILT20 leagues.
Adelaide Strikers v Hobart Hurricanes
Thursday January 5 6:45pm ACDT/7:15pm AEDT, Adelaide Oval
Strikers
Adelaide have already declared two changes with Henry Thornton back after being rested, while Peter Siddle is out with injury for a few games. Jake Weatherald returns after an abdominal injury, replacing Henry Hunt in the squad and likely as opener. Spinner Cameron Boyce is available too after a calf injury and may come into contention for Harry Conway’s spot. Boyce’s availability is timely with this being Rashid Khan’s last game before he leaves for the SA-20.
Ins: Jake Weatherald, Henry Thornton
Outs: Henry Hunt, Peter Siddle
Unavailable: Travis Head (Test duty), Alex Carey (Test duty), Peter Siddle (injury)
1 M.Short
2 J.Weatherald
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 H.Conway
12th C.Boyce
Hurricanes
Zak Crawley is into the Canes squad, replacing Shadab Khan who has departed on ODI duty. Crawley is typically a top-order batsman but it’ll be tough to break up Caleb Jewell and Ben McDermott as openers after their dominant display last time out. Joel Paris is unlikely to break back in.
Mitch Owen may be the unlucky one to miss out but that create an issue with their fifth bowler, relying on D’Arcy Short and Tim David. Pakistani finisher Asif Ali isn’t safe in the side either, having been largely underwhelming.
Ins: Zak Crawley
Outs: Mitch Owen
Unavailable: Jimmy Neesham (SA-20), Billy Stanlake (hamstring), Shadab Khan (ODIs)
1 C.Jewell
2 B.McDermott
3 Z.Crawley
4 M.Wade
5 D.Short
6 T.David
7 Asif Ali
8 Faheem Ashraf
9 N.Ellis
10 P.Dooley
11 R.Meredith
12th M.Owen
Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers
Friday January 6 6:30pm AEDT, MCG
Stars
It’s hard to know how the Stars can improve their fortunes given the lack of depth in their squad. This is Trent Boult’s final game before exiting for the ILT20. Marcus Stoinis will not head to the ILT20 until after the BBL.
No changes
Unavailable: Glenn Maxwell (broken leg), Joe Burns (hamstring)
1 J.Clarke
2 T.Rogers
3 B.Webster
4 M.Stoinis
5 N.Larkin
6 H.Cartwright
7 C.Kellaway
8 L.Wood
9 N.Coulter-Nile
10 T.Boult
11 A.Zampa
12th C.Hinchliffe
Sixers
It’s very tough to project the Sixers changes at the moment, particularly their bowling rotation but Hayden Kerr may be due to a rest and they may want a second spinner at the MCG. They have confirmed Steve O’Keefe, however, will be managed out having only just returned from a hamstring issue. Jackson Bird should be in contention too.
Ins: Todd Murphy
Outs: Steve O’Keefe
Unavailable: Nathan Lyon (Test duty), Steve Smith (Test duty), Steve O’Keefe (managed)
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 B.Dwarshuis
10 C.Jordan
11 T.Murphy
12th K.Patterson
Melbourne Renegades v Hobart Hurricanes
Saturday January 7 6:30pm AEDT, Marvel Stadium
Renegades
Shaun Marsh is in doubt for a leg issue sustained in the Melbourne derby, with Jake Fraser-McGurk his likely replacement, although Marcus Harris has been released from the Test squad and could play too. We’ll gone Harris as the Gades may want something fresh. Peter Handscomb is the sub fielder for the Australia Test team so seems unavailable.
Ins: Marcus Harris
Outs: Shaun Marsh
Unavailable: Zac Evans (pectoral), Nic Maddinson (knee), Shaun Marsh (leg)
1 M.Guptill
2 S.Harper
3 M.Harris
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
Hurricanes
Selection depends on performance in earlier game in round.
Unavailable: Jimmy Neesham (stint over), Billy Stanlake (hamstring), Shadab Khan (ODIs)
Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat
Saturday January 7 6:15pm WST/9:15pm AEDT, Optus Stadium
Scorchers
Perth have a few problems from their loss to the Thunder, namely injuries with Jhye Richardson and Aaron Hardie set to miss, while Faf du Plessis’s stint is over as he heads to the SA-20. That will open up opportunities with Middlesex top-order batsman Steve Eskinazi due a chance in the side, while English right-arm fast bowler David Payne has arrived and may replace Jhye Richardson. Lance Morris has been released from Test duty and flew to Perth on Friday but his condition and thus availability will be assessed upon arrival.
Missing a long list of all-rounders, Perth arguably got their bat-bowl balance wrong against the Thunder, so one of the bowlers will drop out, with Matt Kelly probably top of the list, offering up an opportunity to promising all-rounder Cooper Connolly to debut.
Ins: David Payne, Steve Eskinazi, Cooper Connolly
Outs: Jhye Richardson, Faf du Plessis, Matt Kelly
Unavailable: Cameron Green (finger), Mitch Marsh (ankle), Phil Salt (shoulder), Tymal Mills (personal), Ashton Agar (Test duty), Aaron Hardie (quad), Jhye Richardson (hamstring), Faf du Plessis (SA-20)
1 A.Lyth
2 S.Eskinazi
3 C.Bancroft
4 J.Inglis
5 A.Turner
6 N.Hobson
7 C.Connolly
8 A.Tye
9 D.Payne
10 J.Behrendorff
11 P.Hatzoglou
12th M.Kelly
Heat
The Heat are unlikely to have any need for changes after their abandoned game against the Sixers, in what will be Colin Munro and Sam Billings’ final games before they head to the ILT20. In a 20-over game, Nathan McSweeney should revert back to first drop.
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 M.Neser
8 J.Bazley
9 M.Steketee
10 M.Kuhnemann
11 M.Swepson
12th M.Bryant
Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers
Sunday January 8 7:15pm AEDT, Sydney Showground
Thunder
The word is Daniel Sams will be fit to play the Sydney Smash, so he comes in for Rilee Rossouw whose stint is over. But that isn’t a like-for-like replacement, with Sam Whiteman our pick to come in, having been earmarked for the no.3 role, with Joel Davies to lose his spot despite an impressive debut in the field.
Ins: Daniel Sams, Sam Whiteman
Outs: Rilee Rossouw, Joel Davies
Unavailable: David Warner (Test duty), Tanveer Sangha (back), Jason Sangha (collarbone) Fazalhaq Farooqi (contract terminated), Gurinder Sandhu (calf), Rilee Rossouw (SA-20)
1 A.Hales
2 M.Gilkes
3 S.Whiteman
4 O.Davies
5 A.Ross
6 D.Sams
7 B.Cutting
8 N.McAndrew
9 C.Green
10 B.Doggett
11 Usman Qadir
12th J.Davies
Sixers
Picking the Sixers’ line-up amid their recent heavy schedule is alot of guesswork, particularly given their bowler rotation, so do not take this as gospel. This game is the last James Vince and Chris Jordan are available for, before they head to the ILT20, so expect them to both play.
Veteran Steve O’Keefe starred in the washout against the Heat, so expect him to return after being managed with Izharulhaq Naveed probably dropping out over Todd Murphy who bowled well against the Melbourne Stars.
The big talking point is a potential rest for Hayden Kerr who is their only regular bowler who hasn’t had a break all season, with Ben Dwarshuis or Jackson Bird waiting in the wings. Dan Christian could also be rested, with Kerr elevated to six.
Ins: Steve O’Keefe, Ben Dwarshuis
Outs: Izharulhaq Naveed, Hayden Kerr
Unavailable: Nathan Lyon (Test duty), Steve Smith (Test duty)
1 J.Philippe
2 J.Vince
3 D.Hughes
4 M.Henriques
5 J.Silk
6 D.Christian
7 S.Abbott
8 C.Jordan
9 B.Dwarshuis
10 T.Murphy
11 S.O’Keefe
12th K.Patterson
It seems, and I may be wrong here, but O’Keefe is only playing the games in Sydney.
yep got announced after we’d initially written this