Amid their injury crisis, the Sydney Thunder have added veteran all-rounder Daniel Christian to their 14-player squad for Monday’s game to open Round 6.
TEAM NEWS
Christian along with Hugh Weibgen have been added to the Thunder 14-player squad as local replacement players with injured pair Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams out.
On Christian, the Thunder said: “Christian, who has been serving as Thunder’s assistant coach for the past two seasons, has answered a late call-up to bolster the team amid a mounting injury toll.”
Christian has been playing NSW Premier Cricket for UNSW, with his 3 most recent scores being 68(82), 72(87) and 130(164), while he’s taken 7 wickets in those games. His figures were 0-22(5), 4-40(20) and 3-23(14). He is 41-years-old now and retired from T20 cricket in January 2023.
The Thunder also clarified some of their injury concerns. The update said: “With Tanveer Sangha (side strain), Jason Sangha (bicep), Daniel Sams (concussion), Cameron Bancroft (broken nose and fractured shoulder), and Sam Konstas (Australian Test duties) unavailable, the club was forced to make changes to their roster.”
Konstas wasn’t named despite the early conclusion of the fifth Test but may be in the mix for the second game of their double on Wednesday.
Ins: Christian, Weibgen / Outs: Sams (inj), Bancroft (inj)
Thunder squad: Warner (c), Agar, Andrews, Billings, Christian, Davies, Ferguson, Gilkes, Gray, Green, Hatcher, Nikitaras, Rutherford, Weibgen
The Heat named a 14-player squad with Jack Wildermuth added from the group that saw their clash with the Sixers washed out. Michael Neser and Tom Alsop both appear set to play for the first time this season following injuries.
Heat spinner Mitch Swepson said: “(Neser) is a pretty good cricketer. Having someone of his caliber some back in, he’s obviously a gun with the bat, gun with the ball and we’ve seen what he can do in the field.
“Tom Alsop, I’m excited for him. He’s really excited to play. He’s been chomping at the bit, training hard behind the scenes.”
Ins: Wildermuth
Heat squad: Munro (c), Alsop (wk), Bartlett, Bryant, Johnson, Kuhnemann, McSweeney, Neser, Prestwidge, Renshaw, Swepson, Walter, Wildermuth, Wood
UPDATES
The fifth Test wrapped up on Sunday, two days prior to the scheduled conclusion which is likely to free up BBL-contracted players to play for their clubs sooner than expected. Top of that list is Sam Konstas, along with non-XI players Sean Abbott, Jhye Richardson and Mitch Marsh.
As mentioned, Konstas won’t play on Monday against Brisbane, but could be in the mix for the Thunder’s Wednesday against the Hobart Hurricanes in Sydney, which is the second game of their double.
Perth will be hopeful Marsh and Richardson can be made available for Tuesday’s game in WA against the Renegades, or their Round 7 game on Saturday night against the Sixers in Sydney. Abbott’s Sixers next play on Thursday against the Melbourne Stars, who may also get Beau Webster back.
Keep an eye out for Travis Head, Alex Carey (Adelaide Strikers), Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja (Brisbane Heat), Nathan Lyon (Melbourne Renegades), Scott Boland (Melbourne Stars) and Steve Smith (Sydney Sixers) being made available soon.
