Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis have both been ruled out for Monday’s Round 9 opener, while Aaron Hardie’s role at first drop was confirmed along with an update on the Heat’s Test players likely return game.
TEAM NEWS
Matthew Wade ($174k BAT/WKP) is a shock out from the Hobart Hurricanes’ 15-man squad to face the Melbourne Stars on Monday.
The Hurricanes update said: “Matthew Wade will miss tomorrow’s match for personal reasons, with Nathan Ellis once again stepping up to take the captaincy.”
Paddy Dooley ($149k BWL) is named in the squad after a finger injury, while Chris Tremain ($70k BWL) comes in, along with all-rounder Tom Andrews (BAT/BWL) who is a local replacement for Billy Stanlake ($68k BWL) whose season is over due to a hamstring injury.
The Stars named a 14-man squad with Marcus Stoinis ($104k BAT/BWL) ruled out due to injury, while Trent Boult ($137k BWL) departs for the ILT20.
The Stars said in an update: “Marcus Stoinis has been ruled out after scans revealed a low-grade hamstring strain, which he suffered in the match against the Sixers.”
Hurricanes: Asif Ali, Andrews, Crawley, David, Dooley, Ellis (c), Faheem Ashraf, Jewell, McDermott, Meredith, Owen, Paris, Parker, Short, Tremain
Stars: Zampa (c), Cartwright, Clarke, Couch, Coulter-Nile, Hatcher, Hinchliffe, Kellaway, Larkin, O’Connell, Rogers, Seymour, Webster, Wood
UPDATES
Aaron Hardie ($127k BAT/BWL) looks locked in for a prime role, batting at first drop and potentially bowling. He said: “Absolutely love batting at 3. I’ve done it my whole life in club cricket. You get more balls to bat, when you bat at 3. Glad I took my opportunity… Reckon I’ll probably slide in at 3 for the rest of the season.”
Hardie didn’t bowl on Saturday having just returned from a quad strain but said: “Just managing it. It’s only a very minor strain. I expect to be back bowling next week.”
Cam Bancroft ($98k BAT/WKP) impressed as an opening batsman with Faf du Plessis and Adam Lyth out of the side, offering an extended run in the role. He said: “It’s a beautiful place. You obviously get first crack at it. In my career I’ve probably done that the most in T20 cricket. The opportunity has presented itself, just trying to play as well as I can.”
Sam Harper discussed the extent of the hamstring injury to Shaun Marsh ($113k BAT) which isn’t the end of his BBL campaign. Harper said: “The plan always was to manage him. It’s a shame with his hamstring. I think hopefully back-end of the tournament would be amazing for us, if we can press close to the finals.”
Usman Khawaja ($155k BAT), Marnus Labuschagne ($204k BAT/BWL) and Matt Renshaw ($81k BAT/BWL) are all looming to return for the Brisbane Heat after Test duty. Stand-in skipper Jimmy Peirson said: “Straight away. It’ll be fantastic having those guys back.
“Ussie our captain, Marnus is infectious and Renshaw joins us again. Three big ins, it’ll be interesting at the selection table on who misses out.”
Peirson did back in Josh Brown ($76k BAT) to hold his spot. He said: “We’ve had guys come in and done really well. Josh brown will probably maintain his spot, he’s played really well.”
