The availability of Travis Head and Alex Carey was confirmed for the Adelaide Strikers’ double with both to miss out, while the Melbourne Renegades signed an English spinning all-rounder.
TEAM NEWS
The Adelaide Strikers confirmed their 13-man squad to face the Melbourne Renegades at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday with confirmation that Travis Head ($125k BAT/BWL) and Alex Carey ($121k BAT/WKP) will miss out.
The Strikers actually confirmed the Test pair will miss both games of their Round 9 double and be available for Saturday’s home game against the Brisbane Heat (Round 10).
SACA General Manager, Cricket, Tim Nielsen, said: “After two and a half months of Test cricket and lots of travel, we have worked with Travis, Alex and Cricket Australia to ensure the two of them get the rest they need in a busy summer.
“Looking ahead to the Test and ODI tour of India in February and March, this period was identified as the only chance for the two to recover post a big summer of Test cricket, have a physical and mental break and enjoy some time at home. We look forward to seeing Travis and Alex in Strikers kit at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.”
Head said on SEN: “I’ve got a couple days off. We’ve got a pretty heavy schedule. I won’t be playing (BBL) tomorrow night. We’ll get a couple games off then get stuck into it.”
Henry Hunt ($64k BAT) came into the squad with Rashid Khan ($138k BWL) dropping out having concluded his BBL stint. Jake Weatherald ($47k BAT) remains out due to an abdominal injury.
The Renegades confirmed a new signing in English leg-spinning all-rounder Matt Critchley ($105k BWL) who comes immediately into the squad alongside Ruwantha Kellapotha ($42k BWL) and Jack Prestwidge ($80k BAT/BWL) in their 15-man group.
Akeal Hosein ($148k BWL) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s ($125k BWL) BBL stints are over as they’ve left for the ILT20, while Fawad Ahmed ($110k BWL) drops out.
Strikers: W.Agar, Boyce, Conway, de Grandhomme, Gibson, Hose, Hunt, Kelly, Lynn, Manenti, Nielsen, Short (c), Thornton
Renegades: Finch (c), Critchley, Fraser-McGurk, Guptill, Harper, Harris, Harvey, Kellapotha, Moody, Prestwidge, Richardson, Rocchiccioli, Rogers, Sutherland, Wells
UPDATES
Scorchers batsman Cam Bancroft confirmed that Ashton Agar ($138k BAT/BWL) will return for Perth’s BBL game against the Brisbane Heat on Wednesday after playing in the SCG Test which concluded on Sunday.
Bancroft said: “He’ll be welcomed back into our group. It’ll be really good to see him. I’m sure he’s looking forward to getting out and playing with us on Wednesday.”
Lance Morris ($69k BWL) returned on Saturday after being in the Test squad with a mixed bowling performance. Bancroft added: “Obviously he didn’t start as well as he would’ve liked to. I thought he pegged it back really well.
“I’m sure he’s feeling a bit underdone. It’s a different kettle of fish to bowling in the nets all the time, to then come out in the middle in a T20 when you’ve been bowling with a red ball. I think he’ll just get better and better the more he’s around us and playing games.”
David Warner ($204k BAT) confirmed he will line up for the Sydney Thunder in Friday’s Round 9 game against the Scorchers.
Warner told FoxCricket: “I can’t wait. I’m really really excited. It’s going to be a great battle, looking forward to taking on Lance Morris, ‘the Wild Thing’, and Ashton Agar as well.”
Marnus Labuschagne ($204k BAT/BWL), Usman Khawaja ($155k BAT) and Matt Renshaw ($81k BAT/BWL) all appear set to be made available for the Brisbane Heat immediately.
Labuschagne is scheduled to do media on Tuesday and the Heat put out an update that read: “Labuschagne, Heat captain Usman Khawaja and Matt Renshaw are expected to be available for Brisbane for Wednesday night’s KFC Big Bash League clash with the Perth Scorchers at the Gabba. The Heat will name their squad later tomorrow.”
Their returns may impact Josh Brown ($97k BAT) and Nathan McSweeney ($131k BAT/BWL) who are local replacement players for Khawaja and Labuschagne respectively.
Hobart Hurricanes assistant coach Darren Berry offered an update on spinner Paddy Dooley ($142k BWL). He told FoxCricket: “He split his finger open in the warm-up. The good news was it wasn’t broken. We were concerned he had a break. We’ve got a big break after this, 5-6 days off, so we’re hoping he’ll be available for next game.”
Canes stand-in skipper Nathan Ellis praised Caleb Jewell ($137k BAT) for his fine form. He said: “I’m really pumped for Caleb. He’s gone up another gear in this summer so far. Really proud he’s taken his opportunity when given to him.”
Melbourne Stars coach Dave Hussey confirmed that Marcus Stoinis ($128k BAT/BWL) will miss two to three games due to his hamstring injury. Hussey said: “He’s done a slight hamstring. He’ll probably miss the next 2-3 games unfortunately. We wish Stoin a very speedy recovery. He’s one of our key players.”
Hussey also backed Hilton Cartwright ($74k BAT) for an extended run at first drop. He said: “Moving Hilton to No.3, Hilton’s one of our best players. We want our best players to face the most amount of balls. Hilton probably hasn’t had the extended run batting at 5-6. He’ll bat 3 for a little while.”
