After the longest-ever opening round in SuperCoach BBL history we’ll need to wait a few more days for Round 2 which starts after the Perth Test. Note, the Strikers have a double and the Stars have a bye.
Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Thunder
Tuesday 19 December, 6:45pm local time (7:15pm AEDT), Adelaide Oval
Strikers
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Travis Head, Alex Carey (Test duty)
Selection is very tough to call for Adelaide given they didn’t end up playing in Round 1 but all-important with their Round 2 double. There’s a few question marks, do they pick a fifth out-and-out batsman at 5 in Jake Weatherald or Tom Kelly, or start with their all-rounders with James Bazley and Jamie Overton at 5-6?
If they take the latter approach, that allows them to pick four out-and-out bowlers, removing doubts around Henry Thornton and/or spinner Ben Manenti/Cameron Boyce. For what it’s worth, Wes Agar and David Payne seem safe in their XI as locked starters who’ll bowl death. Captain Matt Short hinted on Monday that Boyce is their preferred spinner.
Strikers coach Jason Gillespie has been pressed regularly on how they’ll replace Rashid Khan, noting he has spin options in Manenti and Boyce but also Matt Short and D’Arcy Short. Those comments pricked my ears, suggesting they could use those latter two for that bit of spin alongside their quicks, rather than a specialist spinner. It’s a 50-50 call, which a lot of coaches who stashed Manenti will be sweating on.
1 M.Short (c)
2 D.Short
3 C.Lynn
4 A.Hose
5 J.Weatherald
6 J.Overton
7 J.Bazley
8 H.Nielsen (wk)
9 W.Agar
10 H.Thornton/C.Boyce
11 D.Payne
Thunder
Doubtful: Will Salzmann (illness)
Unavailable: David Warner (Test duty), Jason Sangha (wrist)
Predicted Changes
No changes
A lot depends on Jason Sangha’s availability after hurting his wrist in training. If he is available, the Thunder will likely opt to drop one of their bowlers, given they only scored 131 last game. Nathan McAndrew and Daniel Sams both bowled poorly in their opening game but are unlikely to be dropped. It’ll either be Liam Hatcher or Nathan McAndrew to miss out if Sangha is back.
Zaman Khan impressed with 2-31 in his Thunder debut but don’t forget he’s only available until their first game in their Round 4 double.
1 C.Bancroft
2 A.Hales
3 M.Gilkes (wk)
4 O.Davies
5 A.Ross
6 D.Sams
7 N.McAndrew
8 C.Green (c)
9 L.Hatcher
10 Zaman Khan
11 T.Sangha
Perth Scorchers v Hobart Hurricanes
Wednesday 20 December, 4:15pm local time (7:15pm AEDT), Optus Stadium
Scorchers
Doubtful: Ashton Agar (calf)
Unavailable: Mitch Marsh (Test duty), Matt Kelly (calf)
Predicted Changes
Ins: Ashton Agar, Zak Crawley, Lance Morris
Outs: Nick Hobson, Hamish McKenzie, Cooper Connolly
It’s a selection squeeze for Perth. Lance Morris has been released from Test duty, while Zak Crawley is available after England ODI duty and Ashton Agar seems set to return from a calf issue.
All of that spells trouble for Nick Hobson who feels expendable at 7, while spinner Hamish McKenzie is likely not needed on the Perth wicket if Agar is fit, despite being Player of the Match last game. The other decision is tough, but Cooper Connolly could be the unlucky one to miss out, with Perth likely to play 4 quicks on their home deck with Lance Morris to come in. Alternately, Connolly could hold and they rest one of their quicks which seems unnecessary given their light early schedule.
If there’s still any doubt on Agar, Connolly easily plays.
1 S.Eskinazi
2 Z.Crawley
3 A.Hardie
4 J.Inglis (wk)
5 A.Turner (c)
6 L.Evans
7 A.Agar
8 J.Richardson
9 A.Tye
10 L.Morris
11 J.Behrendorff
Hurricanes
Doubtful: Riley Meredith (side)
Unavailable: N/A
Predicted Changes
Ins: Mitch Owen, Billy Stanlake
Outs: Peter Hatzoglou, Riley Meredith (inj)
The Canes were touched up by the Sixers in their opener with none of their star line-up of bats except Caleb Jewell firing. Spin duo Paddy Dooley and Peter Hatzoglou went wicket-less, while Riley Meredith injured his side again. Meredith, however, did play in Tasmanian club cricket on the weekend, so he may still be available. He has travelled to Perth.
You’d think injury-free quick Billy Stanlake comes into the frame for Meredith – if he’s not fully fit – while they could entertain selecting in-form all-rounder Mitch Owen to reinforce their batting line-up at 7, given Chris Jordan seemed out of his depth in that role, or give Nikhil Chaudhary a debut. Given this game is in Perth, one of the spinners may miss out.
1 C.Jewell
2 M.Wade (wk)
3 B.McDermott
4 S.Hain
5 T.David
6 C.Anderson
7 M.Owen
8 C.Jordan
9 N.Ellis (c)
10 P.Dooley
11 B.Stanlake
Melbourne Renegades v Brisbane Heat
Wednesday 21 December, 7:15pm local time (7:15pm AEDT), Marvel Stadium
Renegades
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Nathan Lyon (Test duty), Jordan Cox (import quota), Shaun Marsh (calf)
Potential Changes
Ins: Adam Zampa
Outs: Peter Siddle
Expect the Gades to welcome back spinner Adam Zampa at Marvel Stadium after his rest, with Peter Siddle likely to make way. The Gades were hopeful Shaun Marsh would be fit for this game (he played WA club cricket on Saturday), which could really cause a top six squeeze but given his injury history they may err on caution with him. He’s not been named in the 14-man squad, nor has Peter Siddle who’ll drop out.
1 J.Clarke
2 Q.de Kock (wk)
3 J.Fraser-McGurk
4 N.Maddinson (c)
5 A.Finch
6 J.Wells
7 W.Sutherland
8 T.Rogers
9 K.Richardson
10 A.Zampa
11 Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Heat
Doubtful: Josh Brown (foot), Matthew Renshaw (hamstring)
Unavailable: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne (Test duty)
Predicted Changes
Ins: Jimmy Peirson (if Renshaw or Brown not fit)
Outs: Matt Renshaw (inj)
The Heat have started strong with two strong wins alongside a wash-out with their bowling taking 20 wickets in their two completed games, so it’s hard to see any changes on that front. Injuries to Josh Brown and Matthew Renshaw, however, may lead to changes having both been unable to field against the Thunder. The Heat have declared both available, but if any miss out Jimmy Peirson is the obvious replacement after surprisingly missing last game. Max Bryant is an option too.
Interestingly, Xavier Bartlett batted ahead of Michael Neser last game, so if you’re weighing whether to hold or trade Neser, that may be a small swinging factor.
1 C.Munro (c)
2 J.Brown
3 N.McSweeney
4 S.Billings
5 J.Peirson (wk)
6 P.Walter
7 X.Bartlett
8 M.Neser
9 S.Johnson
10 M.Swepson
11 M.Kuhnemann
Sydney Sixers v Adelaide Strikers
Thursday 22 December, 7:15pm local time (7:15pm AEDT), SCG
Sixers
Doubtful: Hayden Kerr (side)
Unavailable: Steve Smith (Test duty), Tom Curran (suspended)
Predicted Changes
Ins: Sean Abbott, Hayden Kerr, Izharulhaq Naveed
Outs: Jackson Bird, Tom Curran (susp), Todd Murphy
Tom Curran’s shock four-game suspension has caused all sorts of chaos. The Sixers will appeal that but the ban will stand for now, so he’ll miss this game. That opens the door for Hayden Kerr who has been out for a month with a side strain but was always tipped to return around this time. If Kerr isn’t fit, a batsman like Kurtis Patterson could come into the side, meaning more overs from Jack Edwards or possibly Moises Henriques.
Sean Abbott’s availability seems clear after missing last game for personal reasons, so he likely slots in for Jackson Bird, with two spinners deployed on the SCG wicket.
Steve O’Keefe is always a chance to be rested but given it’s on his home deck and he’s had a long break, he should get up. It’s worth noting spinner Todd Murphy did only bowl one over last game, so with Izharulhaq Naveed is a chance to play.
1 J.Philippe (wk)
2 J.Vince
3 D.Hughes
4 M.Henriques
5 J.Silk
6 J.Edwards
7 H.Kerr
8 S.Abbott
9 B.Dwarshuis
10 Izharulhaq Naveed
11 S.O’Keefe
Strikers
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Travis Head, Alex Carey (Test duty)
Predicted Changes
No changes
Selection all depends on performance in their earlier game in the round and while they had a memorable win after an excellent run chase, they did concede 200 runs so there may be changes to their bowling attack. Wes Agar (1-44) may not be fully safe with Henry Thornton waiting in the wings but you’d think selectors stick with the same side.
James Bazley only bowled one over and didn’t bat, so may be deemed expendable too, with Ben Manenti potentially more suited to the SCG along with offering a bit with the bat.
1 M.Short (c)
2 D.Short
3 C.Lynn
4 A.Hose
5 J.Weatherald
6 J.Overton
7 J.Bazley
8 H.Nielsen (wk)
9 W.Agar
10 C.Boyce
11 D.Payne
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