Friday’s early mail has dropped with updates on Jordan Buckingham, Fabian Allen, Beau Webster, Daniel Hughes, Ben Dwarshuis, Moises Henriques and Jack Edwards.
STRIKERS UPDATES
South Australia head coach Ryan Harris offered an update on Jordan Buckingham’s rib injury. He told 91.3 Sport FM: “He broke a rib. He was playing in the Australia a game. It wasn’t due to bowling.
“It was a blow he had moving some furniture the week before. For some reason, he bowled 20-odd overs and on the last ball it cracked a rib. He’s been out. he’s back playing for the BBL. He’ll be up and ready for that.”
Strikers captain Matt Short spoke on 5AA about Fabian Allen. He said: “He’s exciting. He’s a gun fielder as well. He’s going to be a very handy player in all three facets of the game.” Allen has arrived in Australia and is available for Round 1.
STOIN OFFERS STARS UPDATES
Prior to Thursday’s Stars-Renegades’ practice game, Marcus Stoinis spoke to the media and updated on Beau Webster. He said: “We’re not sure about Beau. Whether he’s going to get back with the Test match in a few days. We’ll wait to hear about that.”
On Thursday in Brisbane all-rounder Mitch Marsh was bullish about his fitness, saying “he’s ready to bowl as much” as required, meaning Webster is increasingly unlikely to be required.
Stoinis also said Glenn Maxwell would be a “day by day” proposition as he bids to return from a hamstring injury. He said: “He won’t be playing in this first game. I think from there it’ll be a day by day see how he goes. He had a hit yesterday and he loved it. He’ll be back as soon as he can.”
On his own batting role, Stoinis said: “It’s another good question. It might change once Maxy comes back into the team. We’re still sorting through. But I would’ve thought stay in the middle order.”
Stoinis also flagged Joe Clarke would be available for “2 or maybe 3 games”, while when asked who could be a breakout player, he quickly pointed to Hamish McKenzie. He said: “I’m really excited about Chief, Hamish McKenzie, coming over from WA.
“We’ve needed a spinner since we lost Zamps. We obviously have Usama Mir coming. (Hamish) is super exciting for me. I’ve seen him in the nets for a long time. He’s going to be super exciting. His style of bowling will work really well at the ’G. I’m excited that he’s going to get the opportunity to play a massive role for us this season.”
SCORCHERS CENTRE WICKET NEWS
Cooper Connolly (hand) is firming to play in the Perth Scorchers’ season opener against the Stars on Sunday. Batting at first drop in the Scorchers’ centre wicket practice on Thursday, he batted for more than an hour and hit multiple sixes.
Ashton Turner also batted for 40 minutes in the game, as he aims to prove his fitness after a rib complaint. Ashton Agar (AC joint) only bowled late in the session.
Meanwhile, Aaron Hardie is set to miss Perth’s first three games and may have restricted capacity to bowl once he returns in January due to his quad issue. That may be good news for Connolly.
Hardie said in a sit-down interview with The West Australian: “I think I am probably touch and go for a couple of games before Christmas.
“But certainly targeting that after Christmas and then play as an all-rounder sort of in the new year hopefully. It’s just about ticking a few boxes before we go.”
Scorchers fast bowler Andrew Tye was full of praise for young quick Mahli Beardman who could be a BBL|14 breakout. Tye told SEN: “He’s just continuing to grow his skills and develop as a cricketer. He can swing the ball, he can bowl slower balls and he’s also got the pace behind him.
“I think he’s going to be a good player for WA and the Scorchers for a long time. Hopefully we get to see him this year, and for my benefit, who knows, it’ll be nice to have some young blood out there alongside me.”
MOISES PREVIEWS SIXERS
Sixers captain Moises Henriques offered major updates on their injury list, speaking first about his groin issue. He told cricket.com.au: “I’ll (groin) be fine for the first game to bat and bowl as long as nothing happens in the practice games.”
Daniel Hughes (elbow) had been expected to miss early but is now in the mix to be fit for game one having batted in the nets this week, which may force Kurtis Patterson out of the XI. When discussing Hayden Kerr, Henriques said: “He’s expected to be right to go for the first game and the same with Daniel Hughes – it’s looking like everyone should be available for the first game and if not, the second.”
Henriques also assured that Ben Dwarshuis (pectoral) is “travelling really well” and should play in their upcoming practice games. He said: “I faced him at training a couple of times in the last week or two and he’s flying.”
He also flagged spinner Todd Murphy as a likely starter ahead of import Jafer Chohan. He said: “(Murphy) will definitely start (the season) for us and I’m looking forward to watching him continue to grow and develop.”
On Chohan, Henriques said: “He might start in the first game if Akeal’s not out here.”
Henriques was glowing in his praise of Jack Edwards too. He said: “His bowling last season in T20 cricket really came along and over the last two years in all formats his bowling has been really strong. I’m sure he’ll have a similar, if not better, season with the ball than he did last season.
“He’s got so much talent with the bat as well … he was really close last season on a number of occasions of winning us a game with the bat and he made multiple scores between 15 and 20-odd in that position of 6 to 7 where if he just got a couple more boundaries away, or hung around to the 20th over, he turns it into a really important 35 or 40 not out that can win us a game.”
In other news, Sean Abbott and his partner welcomed a baby on Wednesday which had loomed as a potential hiccup to his Round 1 availability.
About The Author
Ben Somerford
