Brendan Doggett, Ollie Pope, Glenn Maxwell and Ben Duckett are among the big names added for the Round 2 opener, while it’s season over for two players due to injuries.
TEAM NEWS
Brendan Doggett has been released from Test duty to play for the Adelaide Strikers in their Round 2 opener against the Melbourne Stars on Friday night.
Doggett’s selection, however, is prefaced by the likelihood he’ll be in the Boxing Day Test squad which is due to be announced soon and maybe potentially assemble on Sunday, ruling him out of Adelaide’s second game of their double.
Doggett is joined by wicketkeeper-batsman Ollie Pope in the squad, after the latter arrived in Australia following England Test duty. Local replacement player Liam Haskett is also in their 14-man squad.
Pope spoke to the media on Thursday and discussed his likely role, when he said: “The plan is to be keeping. I’ve just kept for 3 days in New Zealand, so it’s nice to not feel too rusty. And I’ll bat in the middle order. I feel like I can hit the ball 360 and read situations as well, whether we lose a few early or we’re cruising along nicely.”
Ins: O.Pope, Doggett, Haskett / Outs: Nielsen, Allen (inj)
Strikers squad: M.Short (c), Bazley, Boyce, Doggett, Haskett, Lynn, Overton, L.Pope, O.Pope, Ross, Scott, D.Short, Thornton, Weatherald
The Melbourne Stars named a 13-man squad with Glenn Maxwell named having “recovered from a hamstring strain”. Ben Duckett arrived in Australia on Thursday after England Test duty, while Peter Siddle re-joins the squad.
Ins: Siddle, Maxwell, Duckett / Outs: Paris, Macdonald, Clarke, Kellaway
Stars squad: Stoinis (c), Cartwright, Couch, Curran, Duckett, Harper, McKenzie, Maxwell, Merlo, Milne, Rogers, Siddle, Webster
TEST SQUAD RELEASE WORRIES
As mentioned with Doggett, the Boxing Day Test Squad will be announced soon and may see the likes of Beau Webster, Josh Inglis and Sean Abbott miss games.
It is anticipated all those non-playing Test squad members will be free to play in BBL games on Friday and Saturday, but not Sunday. That isn’t official yet, so watch this space.
REST NOT ON MORRIS’ MIND
Scorchers quick Lance Morris spoke about his physical condition, having been managed in the Sheffield Shield this year. That comes amid talk that Jhye Richardson could be managed by Perth.
Morris said: “I’ve obviously been managed pretty heavily over the last few months. In that respect, my body is fresh. I’ve only played 2 four-day games. My body is feeling as good as ever. Hopefully we can get quite a few games in this Big Bash.”
SEASON OVER FOR WEST INDIAN
Adelaide’s West Indies international Fabian Allen will miss the rest of BBL|14 after scans on his injured hamstring revealed a high-grade hamstring strain.
Sixers batsman Daniel Hughes won’t play again this season either, with the Sydney Sixers confirming the recurrence of a ligament injury to his right elbow.
CANES KEEPER PICKS UP INJURY
Veteran Hurricanes wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade sustained a calf injury during his side’s fielding innings in Thursday’s game with the Melbourne Renegades.
Wade said on FoxCricket: “My calf gave a little twinge. I’ve never done one before. It just grabbed.”
Hurricanes captain Nathan Ellis added post-game: “Not too sure. He was moving around fine inside, so I’m hoping it’s nothing too bad. Knowing him he’ll wake up tomorrow and tell us he’s ready to go for the next game.
“This early in the tournament, we’ll take every precaution we can to make sure he’s there for the middle and the back end. We’ve got to wait for the doctors but he’ll be doing everything he can to be right for the next couple.”
About The Author
Ben Somerford
