Colin de Grandhomme will miss the second game of the Adelaide Strikers’ double due to injury but there’s better news for Chris Lynn, while Peter Siddle is set to return.
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Colin de Grandhomme ($128k BAT/BWL) has been ruled out of the Adelaide Strikers’ game with the Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Thursday after picking up an injury in Tuesday’s game.
Strikers assistant coach Johan Botha said: “He’s got a low-grade hamstring strain. He’ll be out for probably a couple of games. That does leave a little gap in our middle order. Our 3, 4, 5 have been excellent throughout the tournament. Colin has shown glimpses, he played beautifully last night to take us over 200.”
There was better news for Chris Lynn ($168k BAT) who didn’t field in Tuesday’s game, due to fatigue. Botha said: “He had illness coming into the game. He was not at training for the two days leading in. I think it was gastro, it wasn’t Covid. He batted 15 overs and it was just precautionary. He’ll definitely be available for tomorrow night.”
Botha confirmed the Strikers will welcome back Peter Siddle ($79k BWL). He said: “Sidds is good to go. I think he’s done his fitness test and whatever he’s needed to tick off. He’s good to go. We’re looking to welcome him back, just a senior bowler. We’ll definitely need that.”
He also backed in Cameron Boyce ($171k BWL) with uncertainty over whether him or Ben Manenti ($72k BWL) would be their preferred spinner if one dropped out. Botha said: “He bowled very well defensively last night, 0-35 doesn’t put into words what he did for us. He kept the rate (run rate required) going up. He certainly did his job. I’m sure the wickets will come.”
On how the Strikers will cover de Grandhomme, particularly his bowling overs, Botha added: “We’ll have to shift things around a little bit. Last night our spinners had to bowl 4 overs. Matt Short ($220k BAT/BWL) has only bowled 4 overs once this tournament had to bowl 4. His bowling was a miss last night, even just two over would be great.
“We’ll have to cover him in some way. We might have to go an extra bowler and a batter light, but that’ll be the discussion for the next 24 hours.”
Travis Head ($125k BAT/BWL) and Alex Carey ($121k BAT/WKP) are due to return for Round 10’s game against the Brisbane Heat on Saturday. Botha discussed the implications of the pair on their line-up.
He said: “Adam Hose ($130k BAT) can probably shift down one to no.5… Matt Short might have a new opening partner in one of those two.”
The Stars named an unchanged 14-man squad for the game, while Siddle was the only change for de Grandhomme in the Strikers’ 13-man squad.
Stars: Zampa (c), Cartwright, Clarke, Couch, Coulter-Nile, Hatcher, Hinchliffe, Kellaway, Larkin, O’Connell, Rogers, Seymour, Webster, Wood
Strikers: W.Agar, Boyce, Conway, Gibson, Hose, Hunt, Kelly, Lynn, Manenti, Nielsen, Short, Siddle (c), Thornton
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After taking a 3fa against the Brisbane Heat on Wednesday, Jason Behrendorff ($157k BWL) spoke about his new role in the absence of Jhye Richardson ($213k BWL).
He said: “My role has slightly changed in the last couple of games with Richo out, having to bowl the surge now. That’s something I planned for. I did a bit of work on yorkers, slower ball etc.”
Renegades wicketkeeper-batsman Peter Handscomb ($51k BAT/WKP) was sent for scans after collapsing in pain playing in the Victorian Super Slam on Tuesday.
