Round 12 hits hard with the Perth Scorchers and the Brisbane Heat on the double and both play first up on Friday so having your trades sorted early is critical. We’ve mapped out this round as best we can.
Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers
Friday January 20, 4:30pm AEDT/4pm ACST, Adelaide Oval
Strikers
It’s tough to know what the Strikers will do, having picked four bowlers plus Ben Manenti as an all-rounder in their past three games, all of which they’ve lost. Surely that changes this round in this crucial game with finals implications for the hosts. They’d do well to add some batting strength. Travis Head has had two failures, so maybe he shuffles away from opening with Henry Hunt pinch hitting up top in the power play.
Peter Siddle is available after missing the last game with a back concern, so he should slot back in for Harry Conway or Henry Thornton who both went wicketless last game.
Ins: Peter Siddle, Henry Hunt
Outs: Harry Conway, Ben Manenti
Unavailable: Jake Weatherald (injury), Rashid Khan (SA-20), Chris Lynn (ILT20)
1 M.Short
2 T.Head
3 A.Carey
4 H.Hunt
5 A.Hose
6 C.de Grandhomme
7 T.Kelly
8 C.Boyce
9 W.Agar
10 H.Thornton
11 P.Siddle
12th B.Manenti
Scorchers
Perth have locked in a top-two spot but they’re in for an almighty fight for the right to host the Qualifier, where the winner progresses to the Final which it’ll host. The Scorchers won’t want to play at the lifeless SCG, so don’t expect them to rest players in this one.
But they may rotate their bowlers depending on conditions, although we know Adelaide Oval is batsman friendly with short square boundaries. Leg-spinner Peter Hatzoglou may fancy the left handers. Lance Morris probably impressed enough against Hobart to hold his spot, but that relies on Jason Behrendorff bowling death and the power surge, which Matt Kelly and David Payne have done. This one is an absolute pickle.
Ins: Peter Hatzoglou
Outs: Matt Kelly
Unavailable: Cameron Green (finger), Mitch Marsh (ankle), Phil Salt (shoulder), Tymal Mills (personal), Jhye Richardson (hamstring), Faf du Plessis (SA-20), Adam Lyth (ILT20)
1 S.Eskinazi
2 C.Bancroft
3 A.Hardie
4 J.Inglis
5 A.Turner
6 N.Hobson
7 A.Agar
8 A.Tye
9 J.Behrendorff
10 L.Morris
11 P.Hatzoglou
12th C.Connolly
Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes
Friday January 20, 8pm AEDT/7pm AEST, Gabba
Heat
Brisbane have won two in a row, so it’s tough to see them making many changes in this must-win clash with a finals spot up for grabs. The only potential change would be reinstating experienced quick Mark Steketee for newcomer Spencer Johnson who has only managed two wickets in three games despite impressing with his pace and swing.
Ins: Mark Steketee
Outs: Spencer Johnson
Unavailable: Colin Munro (ILT20), Sam Billings (ILT20), Jack Wildermuth (back)
1 U.Khawaja
2 J.Brown
3 M.Labuschagne
4 M.Renshaw
5 J.Peirson
6 S.Hain
7 J.Bazley
8 M.Neser
9 M.Steketee
10 M.Swepson
11 M.Kuhnemann
12th M.Bryant
Hurricanes
A fair bit hinges on spinner Paddy Dooley’s availability, having picked up a groin issue against Perth on Wednesday. He did manage to bowl out and then left the field. After the game, Canes coach Jeff Vaughan was confident he’d be fit to play this game and he has been named in the 15-man squad.
Fellow spinner Wil Parker could come in if Dooley is unfit to play or left-arm quick Joel Paris who may enjoy the Gabba conditions. Pakistani middle-order batsman Asif Ali was dropped last game and it’s tough to see a road back in.
Unchanged
Unavailable: Jimmy Neesham (SA-20), Billy Stanlake (hamstring), Shadab Khan (finger)
1 C.Jewell
2 B.McDermott
3 M.Wade
4 Z.Crawley
5 T.David
6 D.Short
7 Faheem Ashraf
8 T.Andrews
9 N.Ellis
10 P.Dooley
11 R.Meredith
12th J.Paris
Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder
Saturday January 21, 7:05pm AEDT, SCG
Sixers
The Sixers, like Perth, are playing for top spot, so it’s tough to see them letting up with any unnecessary changes. The only area up for debate is their preferred spinners with Todd Murphy, Steve O’Keefe, Nathan Lyon and Izharulhaq Naveed at their disposal.
There’s a bit going on with Lyon’s selection. Lyon had a minor knee issue keep him out of last game, but arguably they’d prefer play Murphy took a 3fa against Adelaide last game. Also Lyon and Murphy will fly out with the Test squad during the finals, so the Sixers may want to give Naveed some more games prior to that, as he’ll be needed.
No changes
Unavailable: Nathan Lyon (knee), James Vince (ILT20), Chris Jordan (ILT20), Naveen-ul-Haq (ILT20)
1 J.Philippe
2 S.Smith
3 K.Patterson
4 M.Henriques
5 J.Silk
6 D.Christian
7 H.Kerr
8 S.Abbott
9 B.Dwarshuis
10 T.Murphy
11 S.O’Keefe
12th D.Hughes
Thunder
The Thunder enjoyed a strong eight-wicket win over the Renegades to bolster their finals hopes on Thursday. With that in mind, it’s hard to see them making many changes. Coach Trevor Bayliss seldom does make many changes.
The only point of contention would be picking Blake Nikitaras last game over Sam Whiteman. Nikitaras didn’t get a bat, so probably earns another game to get a proper shot at it. They’ll probably need him when David Warner exits for the Test series during finals.
No changes
Unavailable: Tanveer Sangha (back), Jason Sangha (collarbone) Fazalhaq Farooqi (contract terminated), Gurinder Sandhu (calf), Rilee Rossouw (SA-20), Alex Hales (ILT20)
1 D.Warner
2 M.Gilkes
3 B.Nikitaras
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
Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars
Sunday January 22, 11:40pm AEDT/10:40pm AEST, Gabba
Heat
Selection will depend on performance in their first game of their double. Even if the Heat lose to Hobart on Friday, they will still be live in the finals race for this game, so don’t expect players to be rested.
Unavailable: Colin Munro (ILT20), Sam Billings (ILT20), Jack Wildermuth (back)
Stars
Given the Heat play the Hurricanes twice in the run home, the Stars are officially out of finals contention, so they may experiment, as a result this is real guesswork. Players may be playing for contracts, such as Tom O’Connell, Nick Larkin and Clint Hinchliffe, while youngsters like Campbell Kellaway, Brody Couch and Cam McClure arguably warrant a shot.
One thing we know is Marcus Stoinis is likely fit to return, having just failed to prove his fitness last game. That’s assuming he hasn’t flown out for the ILT20.
Ins: Marcus Stoinis
Outs: Clint Hinchliffe
Unavailable: Glenn Maxwell (broken leg), Joe Burns (hamstring), Trent Boult (ILT20)
1 J.Clarke
2 T.Rogers
3 H.Cartwright
4 B.Webster
5 M.Stoinis
6 N.Larkin
7 J.Seymour
8 N.Coulter-Nile
9 L.Wood
10 L.Hatcher
11 A.Zampa
12th C.Kellaway
Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades
Sunday January 22, 7:15pm AEDT/4:15pm WST, Optus Stadium
Scorchers
Selection will depend on performance in their first game of their double and whether this game is a dead rubber. Perth may have wrapped up top spot if they beat Adelaide on Friday and the Sixers lose to the Thunder on Saturday, meaning they could rotate players.
Jhye Richardson has also said he hopes to be back for this game, which is approximately two-and-a-half weeks since injuring his hamstring.
Unavailable: Cameron Green (finger), Mitch Marsh (ankle), Phil Salt (shoulder), Tymal Mills (personal), Jhye Richardson (hamstring), Faf du Plessis (SA-20), Adam Lyth (ILT20)
Renegades
The Gades could find themselves outside of the top five by the time this game comes around, so there’s plenty at stake, thus they’ll want to field their best XI. Corey Rocchiccioli excelled when given an opportunity last time with their only two wickets against the Thunder, so he’ll hold. Fawad Ahmed probably drops out, with WA paceman David Moody probably included on his home deck, while spinner Ruwantha Kellapotha likely misses out given conditions at Optus Stadium.
Veteran batsman Shaun Marsh may be in contention to return from injury too, and he’d likely love to face his former side in his hometown. The Gades are unlikely to take any risks on his fitness though, given he’s injury prone and finals are around the corner. If available, Jake Fraser-McGurk or English import Matt Critchley aren’t safe. Will Sutherland has found excellent form too and could be elevated.
Ins: David Moody
Outs: Fawad Ahmed
Unavailable: Zac Evans (pectoral), Nic Maddinson (knee), Shaun Marsh (hamstring), Akeal Hosein (ILT20), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (ILT20), Peter Handscomb (hip)
1 M.Guptill
2 J.Fraser-McGurk
3 S.Harper
4 A.Finch
5 M.Critchley
6 J.Wells
7 W.Sutherland
8 T.Rogers
9 C.Rocchiccioli
10 K.Richardson
11 D.Moody
12th M.Harvey
