The Sydney Sixers’ top order has been thrown a spanner for the early stages of BBL|14 with Daniel Hughes set to be unavailable until Christmas due to an elbow injury.
Hughes, who was the leading run scorer in UK’s Vitality T20 Blast this year, suffered the injury playing club cricket for Easts Dolphins in NSW.
Cricket NSW said in a statement: “Daniel Hughes injured his elbow playing Premier Cricket and has an 8-10 week rehabilitation period.”
The Sixers’ top three typically consists of Hughes, Steve Smith, Josh Philippe and James Vince, although the former two won’t be available early in the season now. Smith will be on Test duty until mid-January.
That could open the door for someone like Kurtis Patterson but he’s not played for NSW at any level since March and only made 20 for St George in a two-day game in club cricket on the weekend.
Emerging all-rounder Jack Edwards is another option although he’s picked up a hamstring strain and will miss NSW’s one-day clash with Victoria on Friday.
In further injury news, there are fresh concerns for Stars fast bowler Mark Steketee (ankle), Heat quick Michael Neser (hamstring) and Hurricanes wicketkeeper-batsman Ben McDermott (hamstring).
Queensland Cricket said: “Steketee, Neser and McDermott all reported soreness following the end of yesterday’s Sheffield Shield match, won by South Australia.
“A decision on the availability of Steketee and Neser for Queensland’s next Shield game, against NSW in Sydney next Friday, will be made next week while McDermott will also be assessed further.”
Strikers all-rounder James Bazley has been named to return for Queensland although he didn’t bowl for Redlands on the weekend and made only 3 off 27 with the bat.
In positive injury news, Renegades all-rounder Will Sutherland successfully returned from his off-season layoff due to a back stress fracture in the Sheffield Shield.
Sutherland got 2 ducks but bowled 24 overs fort he game, taking 5 wickets. He said afterwards: “Good to be back. Body felt fine. Got through it.”
Stars fast bowler Scott Boland’s start to the summer has been hampered by a lingering left knee niggle and a plantar fascia tear in his right foot but he bowled 28 overs for the game and took 3 wickets.
Hurricanes quick Riley Meredith returned for Tasmania following a side strain injury. Meredith bowled 27 overs and took 4 wickets for the game.
Scorchers all-rounder Aaron Hardie also returned from a quad injury in that game and bowled 6 overs in each innings and has been named for Friday’s one-dayer.
Alongside Hardie, WA has named Scorchers speedster Lance Morris and Stars left-armer Joel Paris for Friday’s one-dayer following injuries. Sam Whiteman is unavailable with a minor quad injury,
