The Adelaide Strikers’ missed last season’s finals after a bright start, so there’s been some major changes in the off-season to help compliment BBL|12 Player of the Series Matt Short.

Honeyball SC BBL memberships are on sale! Only $35 for the whole season or $20 per month. Get access to all HB content.

Ins/Outs

Ins: D’Arcy Short (Hobart Hurricanes), Brendan Doggett (Sydney Thunder), James Bazley (Brisbane Heat), Jamie Overton (Eng), David Payne (Perth Scorchers)

Outs: Peter Siddle (Melboune Renegades), Harry Conway, Ryan Gibson, Colin de Grandhomme

Squad (full 18): Wes Agar, James Bazley, Cameron Boyce, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Travis Head, Adam Hose, Henry Hunt, Thomas Kelly, Chris Lynn, Ben Manenti, Harry Nielsen, Jamie Overton, Rashid Khan (withdrawn), D’Arcy Short, Matt Short, Henry Thornton, Jake Weatherald, David Payne

View our list of the top 5 speculative picks in SC BBL|13

Availability Issues

Don’t expect the Strikers to see much, if any, of Alex Carey or Travis Head with Test duties likely to rule them out of the whole BBL in 2023-24, thus we’ve excluded them from this Round 1 line-up.

Gun Afghan spinner Rashid Khan has been ruled out of BBL|13 due to a minor back operation. Wes Agar and Brendan Doggett have had niggles in the lead-up to BBL|13 but should be fully fit.

James Bazley injured his hamstring last month in the Sheffield Shield and is set to miss Adelaide’s opening game but returned for their second, helped by the long BBL gap during the first Test in Perth.

View our list of the top 10 value picks in SC BBL|13

Predicted Round 1 XI Rationale

With Head and Carey unavailable, new recruit D’Arcy Short should come into the top order, with no room for Jake Weatherald, who is in a battle with Thomas Kelly for a batting spot.

Their bowling line-up has never been settled, so adding all-rounders James Bazley and Jamie Overton may work best to strengthen their middle order, even with death-overs option Peter Siddle departing. When fit, Bazley may be considered for those juicy late overs and slot in at 6-7 to bat, but he’s out early with a hamstring injury.

Rashid’s withdrawal opens up a spot for Ben Manenti or Cameron Boyce, with Manenti in pole position as he’s playing regularly for SA and offering more with the bat. Rashid’s withdrawal also potentially means more overs for the Shorts.

David Payne’s addition means it’ll be tough to fit in all their quicks when fully available. Given all that, it’s hard to know Overton’s bowling role, given their options.

Stay tuned for the Strikers replacements for Carey and Head, but otherwise they’ve locked in their 18-man squad.

Predicted Round 1 XI

1 M.Short (c)
2 D.Short
3 C.Lynn
4 A.Hose
5 T.Kelly
6 J.Overton
7 H.Nielsen (wk)
8 B.Manenti
9 W.Agar
10 H.Thornton
11 D.Payne

View our predicted Round 1 line-up for the Brisbane Heat

View our predicted Round 1 line-up for the Sydney Sixers

View our predicted Round 1 line-up for the Perth Scorchers

View our comprehensive SC BBL|13 availability calendar

Honeyball SC BBL memberships are on sale! Only $35 season offer or $20 per month. Get access to all HB content, plus our exclusive injury list, comprehensive global T20 leagues form guide, HB Twitter & Whatsapp chats, entry into our members-only SC group (with prizes) and discount offer for our digital mag.