The long-awaited Prime Minister’s XI was publicly announced on Thursday with nine BBL-contracted players selected, including several SuperCoach relevant names in a major blow for starting squad plans.
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Why this is important is because the PM’s XI game against Pakistan in Canberra is from December 6-9, clashing with Round 1 of SC BBL which starts on December 7.
Brisbane Heat, who have an attractive Round 1 triple, make up four of the selected squad in Nathan McSweeney, Michael Neser, Matt Renshaw and Jimmy Peirson.
Stars duo Beau Webster and Mark Steketee and Sixers spinner Todd Murphy have also been named and have Round 1 doubles. Thunder pair Nathan McAndrew and Cam Bancroft have also been named, but they’re only on a Round 1 single.
That may seem cut and dry, but several of those players will actually be available for games later in Round 1 (some may be carried into the Test squad, such as Bancroft, Renshaw and Neser, so monitor that), which runs up until January 13, creating chaos with selection and roles for players who may get picked in earlier games but lose their spot.
Given the Heat have a Round 1 triple, they’re the big-ticket items and those absences open the door for the likes of Jack Wood, Josh Brown, Jack Wildermuth and Max Bryant.
Brisbane play the BBL season opener on December 7, plus again on December 9, meaning all PM’s XI players will miss both games. But their third game is on December 12, so they’ll all return.
Suddenly, someone like Wood or Brown who seemed like a bargain on a triple, may lose their spot mid-round having not performed in the opening two games. It’s unwanted uncertainty.
However, it does make players like Colin Munro (assuming he’s here for their first game after the Abu Dhabi T10 League), Sam Billings, Xavier Bartlett and Paul Walter much more attractive, given they seem locks in Brisbane’s best XI. Don’t forget, Spencer Johnson is only just coming back from a hamstring injury and may not be up for three games in six days, even if he plays first up as the Heat are hoping.
Elsewhere, Webster and Steketee will miss the Stars’ opening game on December 7 but should be available for the second of their double on December 13, which may impact their bowling options and batting line-up. Maybe it means Marcus Stoinis bowls in Game 1 but not Game 2?
Murphy will miss the Sixers’ opener on December 8, but comes into calculations for their second game on December 11. This may impact the make-up of their side, given they’ve a plethora of all-rounders like Hayden Kerr, Jack Edwards and Tom Curran.
The PM’s XI selection doesn’t actually impact McAndrew and Bancroft’s availability as the Thunder don’t playing Round 1 until December 12, but given they’re on singles, you’re probably not picking them anyway.
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