BBL|14 is almost here with clubs getting together in the lead-up to the opening games, enabling us to start predicting Round 1 line-ups with injuries, form and availability becoming clearer.
Perth Scorchers
Ins: Finn Allen, Keaton Jennings, Matthew Hurst, Mahli Beardman, Matthew Spoors
Outs: Laurie Evans (Melbourne Renegades), Zak Crawley, Steve Eskinazi, Hamish McKenzie (Melbourne Stars)
Unsigned from BBL|13: Sam Whiteman, Liam Haskett, Marcus Harris
Draft Insights
Draft picks: Finn Allen, Keaton Jennings, Matthew Hurst
Scorchers head coach Adam Voges said: “Clearly we were hoping Laurie (Evans) might get through. We thought another team might take him, so we had to go to plan B. We’re really happy. We’ve gone very specific in the type of player we targeted.”
On Jennings, Voges said: “He’s a top-order player. He’s an experienced cricketer, he’s played international cricket, he’s a left-hander which we don’t necessarily have at the top of the order. To bring that in as another option for us will be very, very handy.”
Squad (18 of 18 signed):
Batsmen: Finn Allen, Keaton Jennings, Ashton Turner, Nick Hobson, Sam Fanning
Wicketkeepers: Josh Inglis, Matthew Hurst
All-rounders: Mitch Marsh, Ashton Agar, Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, Matthew Spoors
Bowlers: Jason Behrendorff, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matthew Kelly, Mahli Beardman, Andrew Tye
Availability Concerns
Ashton Agar (AC joint), Matthew Kelly (quad), Ashton Turner (rib) and Cooper Connolly (finger) are all in a race agianst time to be fit for their season opener on Sunday 15 December, although Scorchers boss Kade Harvey has indicated the latter is most likely to be available early. Aaron Hardie has officially been ruled out of game one with a quad issue.
English pair Keaton Jennings and Matthew Hurst have arrived in Perth this week, while Kiwi opener Finn Allen arrives soon, following a good Abu Dhabi T10 League tournament with 115 runs at 38.33 with a 180+ strike rate. Jason Behrendorff and Nick Hobson also both played in the T10 League and have returned home.
Jhye Richardson should be good to go, despite a shoulder scare, with WA opting to manage him in the final Shield game prior to the BBL. Josh Inglis’ availability is unclear, revolving entirely around whether he’s required for the third Test, having been in the squads for the first two Tests. Mitch Marsh, however, will definitely miss due to Test duty, given he’s in the XI.
Round 1 XI
1 F.Allen
2 K.Jennings
3 J.Inglis (wk/c)
4 M.Hurst
5 C.Connolly
6 N.Hobson
7 A.Agar
8 J.Richardson
9 A.Tye
10 J.Behrendorff
11 L.Morris
Perth’s opening batting slots have long been a problem, so the recruitment of NZ blaster Finn Allen and Englishman Keaton Jennings is deliberate to solve that problem, while Manchester Originals bat Matthew Hurst could also fill that role and there’s been talk of an elevation for Josh Inglis to open. Jennings is likely to get the nod early, with Perth liking him as a left-hander to mix up the top order.
Aaron Hardie will miss Round 1, so we’re anticipating Inglis – assuming he doesn’t get called back into the Test squad and not released in time – goes up to first drop, with import Hurst coming into the top 4. While Hurst opened for the Originals in The Hundred, he also played a middle-order role for Lancashire in the Vitality Blast this year, so he’s versatile.
Laurie Evans is a big loss for the Scorchers middle-order batting line-up. The return of captain Ashton Turner from a season-ending injury will go a long way to solving Evans’ absence. But he could miss the start of the season after picking up a rib injury at the end of November. He seems touch and go for Round 1. If he’s out, Nick Hobson should play.
The Scorchers are “bullish” on Cooper Connolly being fit and available for Round 1, while an AC joint issue for Ashton Agar means he’s targetting the “early stages” of BBL|14. We’ve got both in their likely side to start, but if either are out then Matthew Spoors is in the mix to play. Spoors’ club cricket form hasn’t been compelling but Perth may want a legitimate spinner.
The Scorchers have traditionally picked 4 quicks and a spinner, like Agar, and we see no reason for that to change this season, with the likes of Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris appearing back to full fitness. Both have had some injury issues in the off-season, so may be rotated out for the ever-unlucky Matthew Kelly or even emerging talent Mahli Beardman.
Left-arm swingman Jason Behrendorff will bowl up front and Andrew Tye will take his usual death overs role.
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