Jake Weatherald will miss the second game of the Adelaide Strikers’ double, having not been named in their 14-player squad to face the Brisbane Heat on Sunday.
TEAM NEWS
Weatherald had back spasms during Friday’s win over the Melbourne Stars and didn’t field. Versatile all-rounder Harry Manenti has been brought in as a local replacement player.
Chris Lynn has been named after missing last game with calf soreness. On FoxCricket on Friday night, Lynn said: “It’s a wait and see. I’m going to give myself every chance.
“Obviously personally it’s a huge game going up there.so I’d love to be fit for it. Much like today, I’ll give myself every chance and it’ll just be a late call, so how we go.”
Strikers captain Matt Short added: “I don’t think it’s too bad. I think he got scans this afternoon. I think it’s just soreness from the last game but we’ll wait and see what the scans say.”
Weatherald’s injury means they’ll avoid a selection headache after D’Arcy Short came in and impressed. Matt Short said: “Awesome from him. Very happy for him… To come in thinking you’re not playing, and perform how he did on a pretty tough wicket. He got the boys off to a flyer… It’s going to be a tough one at selection.”
Ins: H.Manenti / Outs: Weatherald
M.Short (c), Bazley, Boyce, Doggett, Haskett, Lynn, Manenti, Overton, L.Pope, O.Pope, Ross, Scott, D.Short, Thornton
The Brisbane Heat have got busy signing destructive English top-order batsman Tom Banton as an overseas replacement for the injured Tom Alsop.
Banton, who can take the gloves, played with the Heat years ago, is coming off a stellar 2024, scoring the fifth most runs in the T20 Blast (515 runs at 46.81 with a 151 strike rate) and sixth most runs in The Hundred (211 runs at 26.32 with a 148.5 strike rate).
He’s opened in every game he’s played in England this year. Banton is only available until early-to-mid January as he’s signed to play in the ILT20.
Banton has been named in their 14-player squad for the clash with the Strikers, with TomAlsop, Will Prestwidge and Jack Wood dropping out. Spencer Johnson (toe) remains absent.
Nathan McSweeney is into the squad after being dropped from the Test side and fast bowler Tom Straker has been signed as a local replacement.
Colin Munro missed last game with hamstring tightness and is named in the squad but to be cleared. The Heat update said: “He trained (Saturday night) and will be checked again (Sunday).”
Ins: Banton, McSweeney, Straker / Outs: Alsop (inj), Prestwidge, Wood
Heat squad: Munro (c), Banton, Bartlett, Bryant, Drew, Kuhnemann, McSweeney, Peirson, Renshaw, Straker, Swepson, Walter, Wildermuth, Whitney
MIR AVAILABLE FOR ROUND 3 DOUBLE
Usama Mir will be available for both games of the Melbourne Stars’ Round 3 double, with his team Lahore City Panthers missing the Pakistani Champions T20 Cup finals.
There was a chance that if the Panthers reached the December 25 final that Mir wouldn’t arrive until after the Stars’ first game in their Round 3 double, on December 26 against the Sixers.
As a result, Usama Mir will be free to head to Australia after the Panthers’ final game on Saturday. Two days ago Mir took 4-23 from 4 overs in an eight-wicket loss to the Lions.
Mir’s availability will impact fellow Stars spinner Hamish McKenzie who missed their Round 2 game with a rib injury. Doug Warren stepped in for him and took 1-39 from 4 overs.
