Round 1 is almost here starting on Sunday, with the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades both on doubles thrusting them into relevance. We’ve taken a look at all the predicted Round 1 sides, listing unavailabilities.
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Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Stars
Sunday 15 December, 4:15pm local time (7:15pm AEDT), Optus Stadium
Scorchers
Doubtful: Ashton Turner (rib), Ashton Agar (AC joint), Cooper Connolly (finger), Matt Kelly (quad)
Unavailable: Mitch Marsh (Australia Test duty), Aaron Hardie (quad), Josh Inglis (Australia Test duty)
Aaron Hardie and Josh Inglis have been ruled out, while injured quartet Ashton Agar, Ashton Turner, Cooper Connolly and Matt Kelly all appear set to be available.
With Inglis out, young English pocket rocket Matthew Hurst will take the gloves and likely bat top 4. Scorchers coach Adam Voges has hinted at a potential surprise opening partner for Finn Allen so keep an eye on that, as it could be Hurst, Keaton Jennings, Sam Fanning or even Cooper Connolly.
Connolly batted first drop in Perth’s midweek centre-wicket and may have a juicy all-round, especially if Ashton Agar isn’t available with Hardie out. Fanning and Matthew Spoors are the next in, if any of those can’t prove their fitness.
We’re not expecting any surprises with the quicks, but Kelly could be a chance while Bryce Jackson will be in the gameday squad as a local replacement.
1 F.Allen
2 K.Jennings
3 C.Connolly
4 M.Hurst (wk)
5 A.Turner (c)
6 N.Hobson
7 A.Agar
8 J.Richardson
9 A.Tye
10 J.Behrendorff
11 L.Morris
Stars
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Usama Mir (Pakistan T20 Cup), Ben Duckett (England Test duty), Glenn Maxwell (hamstring), Scott Boland (Australia Test duty)
Beau Webster has been released from Test duty to be available, likely resuming his plumb role, batting 3 and bowling 3-4 overs. That squeezes out Sam Harper, who would’ve taken that first drop batting role.
All-rounder Jono Merlo steps into the side temporarily for the injured Glenn Maxwell, offering some middle-order power hitting.
Mark Steketee and Joel Paris are both out of the Stars’ squad for this game, so Brody Couch, Peter Siddle and Adam Milne should lead the attack, with Hamish McKenzie likely to get the nod ahead of Doug Warren for some spin.
1 T.Rogers
2 J.Clarke (wk)
3 B.Webster
4 M.Stoinis (c)
5 H.Cartwright
6 J.Merlo
7 T.Curran
8 H.McKenzie
9 B.Couch
10 P.Siddle
11 A.Milne
Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Renegades
Monday 16 December, 7:15pm local time, SCG
Sixers
Doubtful: Moises Henriques (groin), Ben Dwarshuis (pectoral), Daniel Hughes (elbow)
Unavailable: Steve Smith (Australia Test duty), Akeal Hosein (West Indies T20I duty)
The word on the street is that the Sixers’ injury concerns are all likely to be fit for Round 1, including Daniel Hughes which creates an issue for Kurtis Patterson and his spot in the side. That’s a 50-50 call.
Hayden Kerr seems set for the all-rounder role at 7 behind gun Jack Edwards. Todd Murphy and Jafer Chohan should offer spin at the SCG ahead of another seamer like Jackson Bird, before Akeal Hosein arrives for Round 2.
1 J.Vince
2 J.Philippe (wk)
3 K.Patterson
4 M.Henriques (c)
5 J.Silk
6 J.Edwards
7 H.Kerr
8 S.Abbott
9 B.Dwarshuis
10 T.Murphy
11 J.Chohan
Renegades
Doubtful: Will Sutherland (side strain)
Unavailable: Nathan Lyon (Australia Test duty), Jacob Bethell (England Test duty)
Based on the Renegades’ midweek practice game, we’ve made some minor changes to their top 5. Will Sutherland’s fitness is the main question mark and whether he’ll be fit to bowl. He’ll likely play but his bowling capacity will impact Hassan Khan’s role and potentially also his selection.
Left-arm leggie Callum Stow is a smokie to play at Khan’s expense, with Tom Rogers and Fergus O’Neill used as lower-order hitters. We’ve got them along with Kane Richardson ahead of Gurinder Sandhu and Xavier Crone in the side.
1 J.Brown
2 J.Fraser-McGurk
3 T.Seifert (wk)
4 M.Harvey
5 L.Evans
6 W.Sutherland (c)
7 Hassan Khan
8 T.Rogers
9 F.O’Neill
10 K.Richardson
11 A.Zampa
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Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder
Tuesday 17 December, 7:15pm local time, Canberra
Strikers
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Ollie Pope (England Test duty), Brendan Doggett, Travis Head, Alex Carey (all Australia Test duty)
The Strikers are blessed with all-rounders, making this XI hard to pick for balance. Brendan Doggett and Jordan Buckingham have both missed the 13-man squad, so won’t play.
Adelaide could go with numerous incarnations, given Matthew Short, Jamie Overton, Fabian Allen, James Bazley and Liam Scott are all genuine all-rounders. They could pick 4 genuine bats, followed by Overton and keeper Harry Nielsen with more all-rounders. If they pick 4 bats, either Jack Weatherald or Alex Ross misses out.
The alternative is having 5 bats for depth, followed by the all-rounders squeezing out a third spinner like Lloyd Pope. That is likely good for Matt Short’s overs.
1 M.Short (c)
2 D.Short
3 C.Lynn
4 J.Weatherald
5 J.Overton
6 H.Nielsen (wk)
7 F.Allen
8 J.Bazley
9 H.Thornton
10 C.Boyce
11 L.Pope
Thunder
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Nic Maddinson (finger), Liam Hatcher (injury)
The early word is Sam Konstas will open with David Warner, moving Cam Bancroft to 3. In-form Sherfane Rutherford has arrived in time following West Indies ODI duty and bat in the middle order, forcing out Matthew Gilkes. Lockie Ferguson is good to go after a calf injury, bowling 4 overs in Friday’s practice game.
1 D.Warner (c)
2 S.Konstas
3 C.Bancroft
4 S.Billings (wk)
5 O.Davies
6 S.Rutherford
7 D.Sams
8 C.Green
9 W.Agar
10 L.Ferguson
11 T.Sangha
Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat
Wednesday 18 December, 7:15pm local time, MCG
Stars
Doubtful: Hilton Cartwright (neck)
Unavailable: Usama Mir (Pakistan T20 Cup), Ben Duckett (England Test duty), Glenn Maxwell (hamstring), Scott Boland (Australia Test duty)
Predicted Ins: Jono Merlo, Joel Paris
Predicted Outs: Hilton Cartwright (inj), Peter Siddle
Glenn Maxwell will miss this game with Blake Macdonald added to the squad as cover. Hilton Cartwright is likely to miss this game after a neck injury in Perth. If Cartwright and Maxwell are both out, Harper should hold and Jono Merlo should come in. They may also be tempted to bring Macdonald into the top 3 and drop Harper, with Joe Clarke taking the gloves.
The Stars’ bowlers are a lottery but we can see Joel Paris coming into bolster their power play alongside Adam Milne, at the expense of veteran Peter Siddle. Keep an eye on Scott Boland’s availability too.
1 T.Rogers
2 J.Clarke (wk)
3 S.Harper
4 M.Stoinis (c)
5 B.Webster
6 J.Merlo
7 T.Curran
8 J.Paris
9 H.McKenzie
10 B.Couch
11 A.Milne
Heat
Doubtful: Colin Munro (hamstring)
Unavailable: Michael Neser (hamstring), Spencer Johnson (toe), Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne (all Australia Test duty), Callum Vidler (groin/National U19s)
Heat coach Johan Botha has indicated either Jimmy Peirson or Max Bryant will partner Colin Munro at the top. But Munro is in doubt due to hamstring tightness. Peirson and Bryant could open together, or someone like Matt Renshaw or local replacement Daniel Drew could be elevated.
Left-arm quick Spencer Johnson appears set to miss this game with his toe injury, opening the door for Will Prestwidge or a local replacement player like Tom Whitney. Under the BBL rules, once approved by the League’s Technical Committee, the LRPs must be included in the 12 on match day, so one of Whitney or Drew will play.
Jack Wildermuth should come into the prime all-rounder role in Michael Neser’s absence. Neser isn’t expected back until early January, making Wildermuth relevant if he can find form.
1 C.Munro (c)
2 J.Peirson (wk)
3 M.Renshaw
4 T.Alsop
5 M.Bryant
6 P.Walter
7 J.Wildermuth
8 X.Bartlett
9 M.Swepson
10 T.Whitney
11 M.Kuhnemann
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Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes
Thursday 19 December, 7:15pm local time, Geelong
Renegades
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Nathan Lyon (Test duty), Hassan Khan (overseas quota)
Predicted Ins: Jacob Bethell, Jonathon Wells
Predicted Outs: Hassan Khan, Mackenzie Harvey
English all-rounder Jacob Bethell is available, forcing Hassan Khan out of the squad. Gades coach Cam White declared pre-tournament that Bethell will bat 4 for them, likely forcing out Mackenzie Harvey who isn’t suited to a middle/lower-order role. Jonathon Wells has handled that role perfectly in the past and seems a likely in.
Fergus O’Neill battled in the ‘Gades opening game too, which could open the door for Gurinder Sandhu or some spin from Callum Stow. We’re inclined to think they’ll give O’Neill another chance for now.
1 J.Brown
2 J.Fraser-McGurk
3 T.Seifert (wk)
4 J.Bethell
5 L.Evans
6 J.Wells
7 W.Sutherland (c)
8 T.Rogers
9 F.O’Neill
10 K.Richardson
11 A.Zampa
Hurricanes
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Iain Carlisle (back), Mac Wright (ACL)
The Hurricanes have played two intra-squad practice games, offering some insights into their likely line-up which seems to have relevant all-rounder Mitch Owen just out of the side, despite some runs opening the batting on Monday.
That’s happened with Shai Hope being released from West Indies duty in time for Round 1 although he’ll meet up with the team in Melbourne on Wednesday which isn’t ideal prep. You can relax, nuff Jake Doran won’t be in the line-up.
Afghan spinner Waqar Salamkheil has impressed in those practice games, so he’ll either team up with Peter Hatzoglou or Billy Stanlake with 3 other quicks in the attack. Given Nikhil Chaudhary offers some spin, we’ve opted for the latter.
1 M.Wade (wk)
2 C.Jewell
3 S.Hope
4 B.McDermott
5 T.David
6 N.Chaudhary
7 C.Jordan
8 N.Ellis (c)
9 Waqar Salamkheil
10 B.Stanlake
11 R.Meredith
Great stuff Ben…………..keep it coming mate…………..Darren McKenzie