Round 2 is almost here starting on Friday, with the Adelaide Strikers and Perth Scorchers both on doubles thrusting them into relevance. We’ve taken a look at all the predicted Round 2 sides, listing unavailabilities.
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Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars
Friday 20 December, 6:45pm local time (7:15pm AEDT), Adelaide Oval
Strikers
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Travis Head, Alex Carey (both Australia Test duty), Fabian Allen (hamstring)
Predicted Ins: Ollie Pope, Brendan Doggett
Predicted Outs: Harry Nielsen, Fabian Allen
Englishman Ollie Pope is available following the conclusion of their Test series and he’ll take the gloves from Harry Nielsen and slot into the 4 spot. D’Arcy Short also cannot be forgotten, although it’s hard to see where he fits into the top 4/5 with Pope in.
West Indian import Fabian Allen will miss after sustaining a hamstring injury in their opening game, likely forcing a re-shuffle. Allen’s absence may offer Matt Short more overs, given those spin options.
Allen’s likely replacement is fast bowler Brendan Doggett, who is released from the Test team and available. Adelaide have also added 200cm left-arm quick Liam Haskett as a replacement, while Jordan Buckingham and Liam Scott could be options too.
1 M.Short (c)
2 J.Weatherald
3 C.Lynn
4 O.Pope
5 A.Ross
6 J.Overton
7 J.Bazley
8 B.Doggett
9 H.Thornton
10 C.Boyce
11 L.Pope
Stars
Doubtful: Glenn Maxwell (hamstring)
Unavailable: Usama Mir (Pakistan T20 Cup), Joe Clarke (stint over), Scott Boland (Australia Test duty), Hamish McKenzie (rib)
Predicted Ins: Glenn Maxwell, Ben Duckett, Peter Siddle, Doug Warren
Predicted Outs: Campbell Kellaway, Joe Clarke, Tom Rogers, Hamish McKenzie
Glenn Maxwell is very confident he will be fit for Friday night’s game, which would be significant. The Stars will definitely be boosted by star English wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Duckett, who’ll step in for Joe Clarke. Stars coach Peter Moores said in pre-season that Duckett would bat somewhere in their top 3 or 4, so keep an eye on how that structures up.
It’s hard to pick the Stars bowlers, but we’re expecting changes after 6 wickets in 2 games and back-to-back defeats. Peter Siddle and Joel Paris must both be in the mix, while Brody Couch seems at risk after bowling only 1 over last game. With Maxwell returning, Campbell Kellaway feels expendable and Tom Rogers feels vulnerable in that top order.
Hamish McKenzie was a late out with a rib injury, with spinner Doug Warren likely to come in and play his role.
1 S.Harper (wk)
2 B.Duckett
3 G.Maxwell
4 M.Stoinis (c)
5 H.Cartwright
6 B.Webster
7 T.Curran
8 D.Warren
9 B.Couch
10 A.Milne
11 P.Siddle
Hobart Hurricanes v Perth Scorchers
Saturday 21 December, 4pm local time/AEDT, NINJA Stadium
Hurricanes
Doubtful: Matthew Wade (calf)
Unavailable: Iain Carlisle (back), Mac Wright (ACL)
Predicted Ins: Caleb Jewell
Predicted Outs: Matthew Wade (inj)
The Hurricanes’ batting line-up was disastrous on Thursday night, so they may want to make changes although it’s hard to see where they go. Matthew Wade might be forced out due to injury, with Caleb Jewell the obvious in.
1 M.Owen
2 C.Jewell
3 S.Hope
4 B.McDermott (wk)
5 T.David
6 N.Chaudhary
7 C.Jordan
8 N.Ellis (c)
9 R.Meredith
10 B.Stanlake
11 Waqar Salamkheil
Scorchers
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Mitch Marsh (Australia Test duty), Aaron Hardie (quad)
Predicted Ins: Josh Inglis
Predicted Outs: Matthew Hurst
Josh Inglis and Jhye Richardson were on Friday named in the Test squad but will be free to play this game, so Inglis will come in for English keeper Matthew Hurst and Richo simply holds.
Aaron Hardie will miss again due to his quad complaint, while it’s hard to see any need for any other changes. Matthew Kelly is banging down the door, so there’s always the risk of rotation but with Richardson headed out soon, they’ll likely just wait, especially this early in the tournament.
1 F.Allen
2 K.Jennings
3 C.Connolly
4 J.Inglis (wk)
5 A.Turner (c)
6 N.Hobson
7 A.Agar
8 J.Richardson
9 A.Tye
10 J.Behrendorff
11 L.Morris
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Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers
Saturday 21 December, 7:15pm local time/AEDT, ENGIE Stadium
Thunder
Doubtful: Sam Konstas (Australia Test squad)
Unavailable: Nic Maddinson (finger), Liam Hatcher (injury)
Predicted Ins: Wes Agar
Predicted Outs: Nathan McAndrew
Sam Konstas has earned a Test squad call-up, but it is expected he’ll be free to play this game before heading into camp.
Daniel Sams’ heroics mean it’s hard to see any obvious need for changes, except Nathan McAndrew dropping out after going 0-53 from 4 overs, with Wes Agar ready to step in.
1 D.Warner (c)
2 S.Konstas
3 C.Bancroft
4 O.Davies
5 S.Billings (wk)
6 S.Rutherford
7 C.Green
8 D.Sams
9 W.Agar
10 L.Ferguson
11 T.Sangha
Sixers
Doubtful: Hayden Kerr (hamstring), Sean Abbott (Australia Test squad)
Unavailable: Steve Smith (Australia Test duty), Daniel Hughes (elbow)
Predicted Ins: Akeal Hosein, Kurtis Patterson
Predicted Outs: Daniel Hughes, Joel Davies
West Indian spinner Akeal Hosein is set to be available for this game, having been released early from national duty.
Daniel Hughes is out for the season with injury and Kurtis Patterson is his likely replacement, meaning Jack Edwards would drop back to 6/7. Hayden Kerr seems good to go despite retiring hurt last game. With Hosein available, either Joel Davies or Todd Murphy will drop out. Murphy only bowled 2 overs in their first game. He should hold but is under pressure. Sean Abbott has been called into the Test squad but is expected to be free to play this game. If not, Davies holds.
1 J.Vince
2 J.Philippe (wk)
3 K.Patterson
4 M.Henriques (c)
5 J.Silk
6 J.Edwards
7 H.Kerr
8 A.Hosein
9 S.Abbott
10 B.Dwarshuis
11 T.Murphy
Brisbane Heat v Adelaide Strikers
Sunday 22 December, 6:15pm local time (7:15pm AEDT), Gabba
Heat
Doubtful: Colin Munro (hamstring)
Unavailable: Michael Neser (hamstring), Tom Alsop (quad), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne (both Australia Test duty), Callum Vidler (groin/National U19s), Spencer Johnson (toe)
Predicted Ins: Colin Munro, Nathan McSweeney, Tom Banton, Tom Straker
Predicted Outs: Daniel Drew, Jack Wood, Will Prestwidge, Tom Whitney
There’s a lot happening with the Heat. Colin Munro looks likely to be available after hamstring tightness but is yet to be fully cleared. Tom Alsop has a minor quad strain and has been replaced for now by destructive English top-order batsman Tom Banton. Nathan McSweeney is available again after being dropped from the Test side. Spencer Johnson will miss with his toe complaint and Michael Neser won’t be back until early January.
Jack Wood and Will Prestwidge have dropped out of the 14-player squad, so they’ll miss. That’s a lot of changes to the batting line-up, with Banton suited to opening, forcing Jimmy Peirson down the order. With Johnson still out, Tom Whitney, Tom Straker or Jack Wildermuth.
1 C.Munro (c)
2 T.Banton
3 N.McSweeney
4 M.Renshaw
5 J.Peirson (wk)
6 M.Bryant
7 P.Walter
8 X.Bartlett
9 T.Straker
10 M.Swepson
11 M.Kuhnemann
Strikers
Doubtful: Chris Lynn (calf soreness)
Unavailable: Travis Head, Alex Carey (both Australia Test duty), Fabian Allen (hamstring), Jake Weatherald (back)
Predicted Ins: Chris Lynn
Predicted Outs: Jake Weatherald
Veteran Chris Lynn missed last game due to calf soreness and D’Arcy Short was excellent in his absence, scoring 60 from 42 at first drop, so he’ll hold his spot. Jake Weatherald will miss after having back spasms last game, so if Lynn is fit, it’s an easy change. If Lynn doesn’t pass his fitness test, then they’ve got a problem, with all-rounder Harry Manenti potentially coming in.
Coaches will be wondering why Brendan Doggett can’t sneak in and he’s still a chance to come in for Liam Scott or James Bazley, especially if they reinforce the batting line-up with Lynn.
1 M.Short (c)
2 D.Short
3 C.Lynn
4 O.Pope (wk)
5 A.Ross
6 J.Bazley
7 J.Overton
8 L.Scott
9 H.Thornton
10 C.Boyce
11 L.Pope
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Melbourne Renegades v Perth Scorchers
Monday 23 December, 7:15pm local time/AEDT, Marvel Stadium
Renegades
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Nathan Lyon (Test duty), Hassan Khan (overseas quota)
Predicted Ins/Outs: Unchanged
Several Gades batsmen played in Victorian club cricket on Saturday, with Jonathan Wells making a match-winning 77* from 75 balls, leading Footscray’s chase to beat St Kilda, for whom Harry Dixon (45 from 52) and Marcus Harris (55 from 72) played. If anything, Wells could come into the side and replace Mackenzie Harvey at 6.
1 J.Brown
2 J.Fraser-McGurk
3 T.Seifert (wk)
4 J.Bethell
5 L.Evans
6 M.Harvey
7 W.Sutherland (c)
8 T.Rogers
9 F.O’Neill
10 K.Richardson
11 A.Zampa
Scorchers
Doubtful: Josh Inglis, Jhye Richardson (both Australia Test squad)
Unavailable: Mitch Marsh (Australia Test duty), Aaron Hardie (quad)
Predicted Ins: Matthew Kelly, Andrew Tye
Predicted Outs: Jhye Richardson, Matthew Hurst
There’s two sets of rules for Test squad duo Josh Inglis and Jhye Richardson, with Inglis free to play this game and hold his role at 4, while Richardson is unavailable, meaning Andrew Tye should slot back in.
The Scorchers mixed up their batting/bowling balance in Hobart and failed, suffering a surprise loss, so we’re expecting they’ll revert to the norm, with Matthew Kelly to replace a batsman, or even spinning all-rounder Matthew Spoors if they want more spin at Marvel. Import Matthew Hurst seems most likely to miss while Inglis is in the side but Nick Hobson might not be fully safe, although he’s made the finisher role his own.
1 F.Allen
2 K.Jennings
3 C.Connolly
4 J.Inglis (wk)
5 A.Turner (c)
6 N.Hobson
7 A.Agar
8 M.Kelly
9 A.Tye
10 J.Behrendorff
11 L.Morris
