Josh Inglis appears set to be unavailable for the Scorchers’ Round 1 clash with the Melbourne Stars, with CA unlikely to release him from the Test squad in time for the game.
Scorchers coach Adam Voges told reporters on Friday morning: “My understanding is not at this stage. We’re in constant communication with the Australian selectors around Josh’s availability.
“I think it’s going to be probably tough to get him over from Brisbane for Sunday. It’s disappointing. We’d love to have him. We’ll keep that communication going but hopefully we see him sooner rather than later.”
Voges’ comments came shortly before Pat Cummins confirmed the Australia XI for the third Test, with Josh Hazlewood in for Scott Boland being the only change. Thus, Inglis, Boland and Beau Webster won’t be in the final XI for the game that starts in Brisbane on Saturday.
Read the latest on all the Scorchers’ injury concerns
HEAT BOWLERS SET TO MISS
Brisbane Heat head coach Johan Botha offered an update into Michael Neser’s injury, with the fast bowler set to miss until early January.
Botha said: “The plan was the first of January game, now it’s been pushed back even longer. He’s in good spirits but we’ll have to see how it plays out.”
The Heat coach also hinted Spencer Johnson might miss their opener with a toe injury. He said: “Immediately there’s a spanner in the works. We could start the tournament with two of our main bowlers out.
“We’ll have to manage Spencer to start with, I don’t know if he’ll get up for game one … it could be five days, it could be 15 days, I don’t know when he’ll be ready. Hopefully we’ve got a deep enough squad to get us a pretty good start to the tournament and then we’ll get those guys back as the tournament goes on.”
WINDIES PAIR FREE FOR ROUND 1
Hurricanes import Shai Hope and Thunder middle-order bat Sherfane Rutherford will be available to play Round 1 after not being selected in the West Indies’ T20I squad to play Bangladesh.
Sixers spinner Akeal Hosein, however, has been selected for the T20I series. He will be released prior to the final game on December 19 but that won’t be in time for the Sixers’ opener on December 16.
SIXERS SIGN BACK-UP KEEPER
NSW local Lachlan Shaw has been added to the Sydney Sixers squad ahead of the side’s first match of the BBL|14 season, named as a local replacement for Australian star Steve Smith.
Born and raised in NSW, the 21-year-old is a product of the Cricket NSW pathway, rising up through the ranks in recent years. A reliable wicket-keeper and top-order bat, Shaw has previously trained with the Sixers but is yet to make his Big Bash debut.
One of the leading run-scorers across the NSW grade summer, the young gun notched 679 runs for Northern Districts last season.
As per league rules, Shaw is required to be named in the playing 12 for the club’s first match on Monday night.
GADES ADD SPINNER AS LRP
The Melbourne Renegades are thrilled to announce the signing of Callum Stow as a Local Replacement Player for BBL|14 for Nathan Lyon. Stow, 22, is a talented left-arm leg-spin bowler from the Gades home-away-from-home Geelong.
He’s a product of the Geelong Cricket Club and has been under the watchful eye of new coach Cameron White after impressive performances in Premier Cricket which earned him a spot in Cricket Victoria’s next gen Targeted Rookie Program.
ALL-ROUNDER SIGNED BY STRIKERS
The Adelaide Strikers have signed Liam Scott as a local replacement player (LRP) for Travis Head ahead of BBL|14.
Scott made his debut for the Strikers in BBL|10, playing four games across two seasons. The all-rounder has been a prominent member of South Australia’s top-of-the-table Sheffield Shield and One Day Cup teams, taking 15 wickets and more than 200 runs across the two formats.
BOLAND REPLACED BY STARS
Bowler Austin Anlezark has been named as a local replacement player for Scott Boland. Anlezark will replace Boland whilst he is on Australian duty in the series against India.
Anlezark, a member of the Stars Academy, took 7 wickets in 3 games in the Top End T20 and has been a part of Australia’s Under 19 squad at the beginning of last year.
BEAN JOINS THE ‘CANES
The Hobart Hurricanes can announce today their latest signing with Queenslander, Marcus Bean signing as an injury replacement player for BBL|14.
Bean will replace Mac Wright, who sustained a knee injury during a One Day Cup match against Queensland in February last season.
Wright is tracking well for a return to Cricket Tasmania Premier League action in the new year and depending on his rehab in the next few weeks, could be available towards the back-end of BBL. Bean is a towering left-arm quick who is well over 200cm and will be looking to use his height to make life difficult for opposing batters in BBL|14.
