Aussie selectors made some big waves on BBL availability with the selection for the fourth and fifth Tests on Friday, while team news has been revealed for Saturday’s double-header.
TEST SQUAD IMPLICATIONS
Jhye Richardson, Sam Konstas, Sean Abbott, Beau Webster and Josh Inglis have all been called into the 15-player squad. The aforementioned quintet will definitely be available to play BBL on Friday and Saturday, but things get murky for Sunday and Monday games, with the camp for the MCG Test due to commence on Monday.
The Scorchers play in Melbourne on Monday, so there’s some hope Richardson and Inglis could be permitted to play, given they’ll be in town.
Richardson was asked if selectors had provided clarity on his BBL availability on SEN on Friday and said: “Not specifically. Obviously the priority is to be available for this game (against Hobart on Saturday) and then we’ve got a game on Monday in Melbourne.
“We’ll fly back to Melbourne anyway, so I’m assuming I’ll stay with the Scorchers for that flight and then reconvene with the Aus guys and see exactly when they want me. Coz obviously there’s that game as well, so we’ll see what happens with that.”
Nathan McSweeney has dropped out and Brendan Doggett has been overlooked. Both are now available for BBL selection.
TEAM NEWS
Hurricanes vs Scorchers
Despite a calf injury worry, Matthew Wade has been included in the Hobart Hurricanes named a 14-man squad to play the Perth Scorchers at 4pm AEDT on Saturday. The Canes made only one change, with batsman Charlie Wakim added to the group for fast bowler Marcus Bean.
Canes coach Jeff Vaughan explained Wade’s status at an airport media opportunity upon the side’s return to Hobart. He said: “Calf issue. Just off the plane now. He’ll go and get a scan this afternoon.
“We should know a little bit more information in the next couple of hours. At the moment he’s in the mix to play tomorrow. We’re pretty confident it’s not too bad, but we’ll know more in the coming hours.”
Vaughan also discussed Mitch Owen’s role, having opened the batting on Thursday. He said: “It’s something we’ve done at the Tigers through the One-Day tournament. He’s impacted games at cricket at the top of the order. We’re looking for him to play that role in the immediate future.”
Ins: Wakim / Outs: Bean
Hurricanes squad: Ellis (c), Chaudhary, David, Hatzoglou, Hope, Jewell, Jordan, McDermott, Meredith, Owen, Stanlake, Wade, Waqar
The Scorchers have named a 14-man squad, with Josh Inglis released from the Test squad to play, along with Matthew Spoors. There’s still no Aaron Hardie (quad).
Ins: Inglis, Spoors / Outs: Fanning, Jackson
Scorchers squad: Turner (c), Agar, Allen, Behrendorff, Connolly, Fanning, Hobson, Hurst, Inglis, Jennings, Kelly, Morris, Richardson, Spoors, Tye
Thunder vs Sixers
Sam Konstas has been named in the Sydney Thunder’s 14-man squad named to play the Sydney Sixers at ENGIE Stadium on Saturday night. All-rounder Tom Andrews comes into the squad as a local replacement player with Will Salzmann unavailable injured.
Ins: Andrews / Outs: Nikitaras
Thunder squad: Warner (c), Agar, Bancroft, Billings, Davies, Ferguson, Green, Konstas, McAndrew, Nikitaras, Rutherford, Sams, J.Sangha, T.Sangha
West Indian spinner Akeal Hosein comes in for the Sixers along with Kurtis Patterson, with injured top-order batsman Daniel Hughes dropping out. Hayden Kerr has been named despite an injury scare last game and Honeyball understands he’s good to go.
Ins: Hosein, Patterson / Outs: Chohan, Hughes
Sixers squad: Henriques (c), Abbott, Davies, Dwarshuis, Edwards, Hosein, Kerr, Murphy, Patterson, Perry, Philippe, Shaw, Silk, Vince
INJURY NEWS
Chris Lynn missed Adelaide’s game with the Melbourne Stars on Friday due to “calf soreness”.
