Round 6 starts on Monday with the Sydney Thunder having a double and the Adelaide Strikers having a bye. We’ve taken a look at all the predicted Round 6 sides, listing unavailability, noting the possible return of Test players.
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Brisbane Heat v Sydney Thunder
Monday 6 January, 6:15pm local time/7:15pm AEDT, Gabba
Heat
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne (both Australia Test duty)
Predicted Ins: Michael Neser, Tom Alsop
Predicted Outs: Will Prestwidge, Tom Banton
The Heat have basically declared Michael Neser and Tom Alsop will play, having been named to return from injury in the washed-out game against the Sixers.
Alsop comes in for Tom Banton, and is a chance to open the batting, but could play middle order, with Matt Renshaw or Nathan McSweeney partnering Colin Munro.
Neser is an easy replacement for young all-rounder Will Prestwidge.
1 T.Alsop (wk)
2 C.Munro (c)
3 N.McSweeney
4 M.Renshaw
5 M.Bryant
6 P.Walter
7 M.Neser
8 X.Bartlett
9 S.Johnson
10 M.Swepson
11 M.Kuhnemann
Thunder
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Sam Konstas (Australia Test squad), Nic Maddinson (finger), Nathan McAndrew (shoulder), Tanveer Sangha (side), Jason Sangha (bicep), Daniel Sams (concussion), Cameron Bancroft (concussion/nose/shoulder)
Predicted Ins: Liam Hatcher, Ollie Davies
Predicted Outs: Daniel Sams (inj), Cameron Bancroft (inj)
Daniel Sams and Cameron Bancroft will both miss out. Sam Konstas isn’t available, along with several other players due to injury, so there’s a bit to work through.
Ollie Davies should return from illness, having been raced off his sick bed as a concussion sub in Perth. Liam Hatcher, Hugh Weibgen or veteran Dan Christian will replace Sams, but we’re anticipating it’ll be Hatcher for his bowling, given they don’t have a legitimate sixth bowling option. In saying that, that does impact the strength of their batting line-up. We’re also not convinced Blake Nikitaras holds his spot.
1 D.Warner (c)
2 B.Nikitaras
3 M.Gilkes
4 O.Davies
5 S.Billings (wk)
6 S.Rutherford
7 C.Green
8 T.Andrews
9 L.Hatcher
10 L.Ferguson
11 W.Agar
Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades
Tuesday 7 January, 4:15pm local time/7:15pm AEDT, Optus Stadium
Scorchers
Doubtful: Ashton Agar (back), Aaron Hardie (side/abdomen)
Unavailable: Josh Inglis (calf)
Predicted Ins: Jhye Richardson, Ashton Agar, Mitch Marsh
Predicted Outs: Matt Kelly, Matthew Spoors, Matthew Hurst
Jhye Richardson and Mitch Marsh have been made available for this game, having not played in the fifth Test which finished on Sunday. Perth have declared Matthew Hurst is out of their gameday squad, so Marsh comes in for him and Finn Allen takes the gloves.
Matt Kelly seems the easy exclusion for Richardson but Andrew Tye’s performances may be testing the selectors’ patience a tad and he could drop out.
The Scorchers seem confident Ashton Agar will be fine to return from a back complaint, which Matt Spoors likely to drop out after only bowling 1 over last game. Aaron Hardie didn’t field last game out of caution due to a side/abdominal issue but should play. The Scorchers are desperate for him to find some form.
1 M.Marsh
2 F.Allen (wk)
3 A.Hardie
4 C.Connolly
5 A.Turner (c)
6 N.Hobson
7 A.Agar
8 J.Richardson
9 A.Tye
10 J.Behrendorff
11 L.Morris
Renegades
Doubtful: Kane Richardson (soreness)
Unavailable: Hassan Khan (overseas quota), Nathan Lyon (Test duty)
Predicted Ins: Kane Richardson
Predicted Outs: Xavier Crone
The Gades made 3 changes last game and inclusions Jonathon Wells and Gurinder Sandhu did more than enough to hold their spots. As a result, it’s hard to see Fergus O’Neill returning, with Kane Richardson likely to be available after soreness to replace Xavier Crone. Spinner Nathan Lyon could be made available but, as a bowler, probably will rest up after a five-Test summer.
The Gades have lost 3 in a row with Jake Fraser-McGurk struggling at the top of the order, so they may look to change things up. Could Jacob Bethell or Laurie Evans be elevated to open the batting? Or does Marcus Harris find his way into the side in his home state?
1 J.Brown
2 J.Fraser-McGurk
3 T.Seifert (wk)
4 J.Bethell
5 J.Wells
6 L.Evans
7 W.Sutherland (c)
8 T.Rogers
9 G.Sandhu
10 K.Richardson
11 A.Zampa
Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes
Wednesday 8 January, 7:15pm AEDT, ENGIE Stadium
Thunder
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Nic Maddinson (finger), Nathan McAndrew (shoulder), Tanveer Sangha (side), Jason Sangha (bicep), Daniel Sams (concussion), Cameron Bancroft (concussion/nose/shoulder)
Predicted Ins: Sam Konstas
Predicted Outs: Hugh Weibgen
Sam Konstas has been made available following the Test series for this game and should come in for Hugh Weibgen, forcing a bit of a re-shuffle for Ollie Davies to return to 4. This will be Lockie Ferguson and Sherfane Rutherford’s last games before flying out for the ILT20.
1 D.Warner (c)
2 S.Konstas
3 M.Gilkes
4 O.Davies
5 S.Billings (wk)
6 S.Rutherford
7 C.Green
8 D.Christian
9 T.Andrews
10 L.Ferguson
11 W.Agar
Hurricanes
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Iain Carlisle (back), Mac Wright (ACL)
Predicted Ins/Outs: Unchanged
It’s hard to see Hobart changing things much at this stage. If anything, they may want a second spinner at the Showgrounds, with Peter Hatzoglou likely the preferred option for Billy Stanlake. This will be Shai Hope and Waqar Salamkheil’s last games before heading to the ILT20.
1 M.Wade (wk)
2 M.Owen
3 S.Hope
4 B.McDermott
5 T.David
6 N.Chaudhary
7 C.Jordan
8 N.Ellis (c)
9 R.Meredith
10 B.Stanlake
11 Waqar Salamkheil
Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers
Thursday 9 January, 7:15pm AEDT, MCG
Stars
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Adam Milne (stint over), Joe Clarke (stint over), Scott Boland (Australia Test squad), Tom Curran (calf), Hamish McKenzie (rib)
Predicted Ins: Beau Webster
Predicted Outs: Tom Rogers
The Stars have won 2 in a row and are building some momentum. They’ll also welcome back fifth Test hero Beau Webster to bolster their line-up. This game is too soon for Tom Curran (calf) however. Tom Rogers is the one likely to make way for Webster, forcing a batting order re-shuffle which could see Glenn Maxwell go up to open, or Sam Harper.
It’s been confirmed Scott Boland won’t play, due to bowling loads, after playing 3 Tests for Australia this summer.
1 B.Duckett
2 S.Harper (wk)
3 D.Lawrence
4 M.Stoinis (c)
5 G.Maxwell
6 B.Webster
7 H.Cartwright
8 Usama Mir
9 J.Paris
10 M.Steketee
11 P.Siddle
Sixers
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Daniel Hughes (elbow), Steve Smith (Australia Test squad), Jackson Bird (managed/injury)
Predicted Ins: Sean Abbott
Predicted Outs: Jackson Bird
The Sixers’ last game was washed out after a poor batting display against Hobart on New Year’s Day, but it’s hard to imagine they’ll swing the axe. In-form quick Jackson Bird was going to be managed in Coffs Harbour and he’ll miss again.
Sean Abbott should be available after spending last week with the Test squad, so he comes in for Bird. This is Akeal Hosein and James Vince’s final games before flying out for the ILT20.
1 J.Vince
2 J.Philippe (wk)
3 K.Patterson
4 M.Henriques (c)
5 J.Silk
6 J.Edwards
7 H.Kerr
8 B.Dwarshuis
9 S.Abbott
10 A.Hosein
11 T.Murphy
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