The BBL takes a two-day break over Christmas but there were some relevant updates coming out of clubs related to Glenn Maxwell, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Ben McDermott, Daniel Sams and more.
SQUAD NEWS
The Melbourne Stars named a 14-man squad for their Boxing Day clash with the Sydney Sixers, with Imad Wasim coming into the group, with Liam Dawson’s three-game stint over. Joe Burns, Campbell Kellaway and Brody Couch all drop out.
The Stars declared Imad is available all season in their squad release, but it is worth noting he currently has an ILT20 contract which would see him exit BBL in Round 7-8.
Stars squad: Maxwell (c), Cartwright, Harper, Larkin, Merlo, Mir, Paris, Rauf, Rocchiccioli, Rogers, Steketee, Stoinis, Imad Wasim, Webster
The Perth Scorchers named an extended 17-man squad for their Boxing Day game against the Melbourne Renegades, with Matt Kelly coming into the group after a calf injury and Ashton Turner dropping out due to his season-ending knee injury.
Scorchers squad: Hardie (c), Agar, Behrendorff, Connolly, Crawley, Eskinazi, Evans, Gannon, Haskett, Hobson, Inglis, Kelly, McKenzie, Morris, Richardson, Tye, Whiteman
The Scorchers confirmed Aaron Hardie will become their new captain in the wake of Turner’s season-ending injury.
On Turner’s replacement in the XI, Scorchers coach Adam Voges gave nothing away. He said: “We obviously have to replace Ash. We’ll sit down at selection and work out what that right balance is. It’s hard to change the balance when our no.6 hasn’t had a hit yet.” Sam Whiteman, Steve Eskinazi, Hamish McKenzie and Nick Hobson are all viable options for the XI.
The Renegades named a 14-man squad with Aaron Finch out with back soreness and veteran WA-based bat Shaun Marsh named for the first time this season after a calf issue. Marsh may come into starting XI contention, which could cause a top 4 re-shuffle and impact Jake Fraser-McGurk ($98k BAT).
Renegades squad: Maddinson (c), Clarke, Fraser-McGurk, Harvey, de Kock, S.Marsh, O’Neill, Richardson, Rogers, Siddle, Sutherland, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Wells, Zampa
LATEST NEWS
Melbourne Stars captain Glenn Maxwell ($130k BAT/BWL) appears set to be unavailable to bowl again in their Boxing Day clash with the Sydney Sixers. Maxwell returned from a forearm injury on Saturday but didn’t bowl in the loss to the Thunder.
Stars teammate Beau Webster ($163k BAT/BWL) explained post-game: “Obviously Glenn has had a few minor injuries along the way. As long as we can keep him on the park, if that means no bowling, we’d rather have his batting prowess. I don’t know if he’s going to be right to bowl in our next game, we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Ben McDermott ($81k WKP/BAT) missed the Hurricanes-Renegades game after picking up a knock in training on Thursday, believed to be a neck injury. It is understood he was close to being available but couldn’t prove his fitness.
Daniel Sams ($147k BAT/BWL) re-discovered his best form on Friday ahead of the Thunder’s Round 4 double, making him an attractive trade-in option. Sams had been below his best to start BBL|13, flying back into Australia on the eve of the tournament from the Abu Dhabi T10 League, before experiencing groin tightness in their second game.
Sams said post-game on Friday: “I’m going good. Normal little niggles… I hadn’t had the start to the tournament I wanted so today was a good one to get that result for the team and myself personally.”
Jackson Bird ($168k BWL) impressed in Thursday’s win over the Adelaide Strikers, taking 2-19 in a new role with Sean Abbott, Tom Curran and Hayden Kerr absent. Bird bowled overs 1, 3, 17 and 19. Sixers teammates said it was Bird’s best spell in the magenta.
Bird said: “It’s always nice to hear that from your teammates. It’s just my role is a little bit different, bowling surge and the death. I normally just bowl at the start or through the middle trying to take wickets in the power play. My role is a bit different but it was just having a clear plan. The wicket helped a little bit, it’s a bit up and down and slow.”
The BBL confirmed on Saturday that the abandoned game between the Renegades and Scorchers in Geelong will not be re-scheduled. The BBL said in a statement: “While various options to reschedule were explored, it became apparent rescheduling would be challenging due to a variety of factors, including the existing schedule across the two Clubs and limited access to venues.”
The BBL also confirmed that Sixers’ all-rounder Tom Curran’s appeal for a four-game ban had been dismissed with the original decision to stand, meaning he won’t be available until January 3 in Round 6.
View our predicted Round 3 line-ups, with SuperCoach explanations
