The final round of the SuperCoach BBL season starts tonight, with the Hobart Hurricanes on the only double of the round and in action immediately, so it’s time to sort your trades.
Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers
Monday January 23, 7:15pm AEDT, Blundstone Arena
Hurricanes
The Canes have two games left to clinch a top-five spot, so there’s plenty at stake. Hobart have lost their past two, so may want to make some changes. One unknown is Paddy Dooley’s availability after a groin issue. The spinner will play if available, likely coming in for Mitch Owen. Joel Paris took 2-15 from four overs last game, so likely holds his spot, meaning Tom Andrews won’t be able to force his way back in, unless Dooley isn’t fit.
Ins: Paddy Dooley
Outs: Mitch Owen
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 J.Paris
9 N.Ellis
10 P.Dooley
11 R.Meredith
12th M.Owen
Sixers
This game is a dead rubber for the Sixers, with Perth having secured top spot, meaning they cannot finish higher or lower than second. As a result, they may rest players for the trip. Despite that, they have named an extended 18-man squad, so they’re giving nothing away.
Steve Smith had back spasms prior to Saturday’s game and after a busy Test summer may want to miss this game with nothing at stake. Likewise, they’ve missed up their bowlers throughout the season, so Jackson Bird and Nathan Lyon may get a go. Expect Izharulhaq Naveed to play, given they’ll need him come finals. Veteran Steve O’Keefe is unlikely to want to make the trip.
The Sixers have also added a back-up wicketkeeper to their squad in Lachlan Shaw, opening up a possible Josh Philippe rest. This one is guesswork.
Ins: Izharulhaq Naveed, Dan Hughes
Outs: Steve O’Keefe, Steve Smith
Unavailable: James Vince (ILT20), Chris Jordan (ILT20), Naveen-ul-Haq (ILT20)
1 J.Philippe
2 K.Patterson
3 D.Hughes
4 M.Henriques
5 J.Silk
6 D.Christian
7 H.Kerr
8 S.Abbott
9 B.Dwarshuis
10 T.Murphy
11 Izharulhaq Naveed
12th J.Bird
Melbourne Renegades v Adelaide Strikers
Tuesday January 24, 7:15pm AEDT, Marvel Stadium
Renegades
Kane Richardson will definitely return for the Gades in this must-win game, with David Moody likely missing out after his disastrous display in Perth, thrown out of the attack after two above-waist no-balls. The Gades will probably want to add another spin option at Marvel, meaning Jack Prestwidge drops out too, although that’ll be either Fawad Ahmed or Ruwantha Kellapotha. Kellapotha did well on his debut against this opponent, so we’re backing him.
Ins: Kane Richardson, Ruwantha Kellapotha
Outs: David Moody, Jack Prestwidge
Unavailable: Zac Evans (pectoral), Nic Maddinson (knee), Akeal Hosein (ILT20), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (ILT20), Peter Handscomb (hip)
1 M.Guptill
2 S.Marsh
3 S.Harper
4 A.Finch
5 M.Critchley
6 J.Wells
7 W.Sutherland
8 T.Rogers
9 R.Kellapotha
10 C.Rocchiccioli
11 K.Richardson
12th M.Harvey
Strikers
The Strikers were hammered last time out by the minor premiers Perth, so they may want to change things up with their top-five hopes at stake. Then again, they made changes for that game and the Scorchers are a tough benchmark, so maybe they’ll persist again.
However, Adelaide have already confirmed Thomas Kelly has been dropped, with either Henry Hunt or Ryan Gibson to take his spot. Henry Thornton has seemed to be out of favour despite his lightning start to the season, so Ben Manenti’s ankle roll – ruling him out – may open the door for the speedster.
Ins: Henry Thornton, Ryan Gibson
Outs: Ben Manenti, Thomas Kelly
Unavailable: Jake Weatherald (injury), Rashid Khan (SA-20), Chris Lynn (ILT20), Ben Manenti (ankle)
1 M.Short
2 T.Head
3 A.Carey
4 A.Hose
5 C.de Grandhomme
6 R.Gibson
7 H.Nielsen
8 C.Boyce
9 W.Agar
10 H.Thornton
11 P.Siddle
12th H.Hunt
Hobart Hurricanes v Brisbane Heat
Wednesday January 25, 1:40pm AEDT, UTas Stadium, Launceston
Hurricanes
The Hurricanes simply need to win this game to stay in the finals hunt, so they’ll throw everything at it. Joel Paris was expensive again in Monday’s loss to the Sydney Sixers, so he’s no certainty to hold, with Tom Andrews, Wil Parker and Mitch Owen in contention to replace him.
The batting line-up continues to fail to fire despite looking electric on paper, so perhaps they’ll change that up again, with Mac Wright brought into their 16-man squad.
No changes
Unavailable: Jimmy Neesham (SA-20), Billy Stanlake (hamstring), Shadab Khan (finger)
1 C.Jewell
2 B.McDermott
3 Z.Crawley
4 M.Wade
5 T.David
6 D.Short
7 Faheem Ashraf
8 J.Paris
9 N.Ellis
10 P.Dooley
11 R.Meredith
12th M.Owen
Heat
Brisbane are on fire, having won four in a row to sit third, so it’s hard to see them making changes.
No changes
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 S.Johnson
10 M.Swepson
11 M.Kuhnemann
12th M.Bryant
Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder
Wednesday January 25, 7:15pm, MCG
Stars
The Stars are out of contention so may be experimenting and offering up opportunities. It’s tough to know this one.
No changes
Unavailable: Glenn Maxwell (broken leg), Joe Burns (hamstring), Trent Boult (ILT20)
1 J.Clarke
2 T.Rogers
3 C.Kellaway
4 H.Cartwright
5 M.Stoinis
6 B.Webster
7 N.Larkin
8 N.Coulter-Nile
9 L.Wood
10 L.Hatcher
11 A.Zampa
12th J.Seymour
Thunder
The Thunder have lost four of their past five games and may need a NRR-boosting win to qualify for the finals by the time this game comes around, so that’ll play a part in selection. David Warner is understood to be available for this game, contrary to reports. The changes made for the Sydney Smash didn’t work, giving up 187 runs and scoring only 62, so Nathan McAndrew should find his way back into the side.
Ins: Nathan McAndrew
Outs: Joel Davies
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 G.Sandhu
11 Usman Qadir
12th J.Davies
