Round 7 starts on Friday with four games evenly spread making it a single-game round to navigate. We’ve taken a look at all the predicted Round 7 sides, listing unavailability, noting the return of Test players and exits of imports for the ILT20.
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Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Thunder
Friday 10 January 7:15pm AEDT, Ninja Stadium
Hurricanes
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Iain Carlisle (back), Mac Wright (ACL), Shai Hope (ILT20), Waqar Salamkheil (ILT20)
Predicted Ins: Caleb Jewell, Peter Hatzoglou
Predicted Outs: Shai Hope, Waqar Salamkheil
Shai Hope and Waqar Salamkheil’s BBL stints are over, headed off to the ILT20 in the UAE. The Hurricanes seem to favour continuity this season, so will use top-order bat Caleb Jewell and spinner Peter Hatzoglou, who’ve come into the side when someone has dropped out. Both fill the absent roles perfectly. Hatzoglou got the nod ahead of Paddy Dooley when Nathan Ellis was ill on New Year’s Day so we’re backing him.
1 M.Wade (wk)
2 M.Owen
3 C.Jewell
4 B.McDermott
5 T.David
6 N.Chaudhary
7 C.Jordan
8 N.Ellis (c)
9 P.Hatzoglou
10 R.Meredith
11 B.Stanlake
Thunder
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Nic Maddinson (finger), Tanveer Sangha (side), Jason Sangha (bicep), Will Salzmann (injury), Daniel Sams (concussion), Cameron Bancroft (concussion/nose/shoulder), Sherfane Rutherford (ILT20), Lockie Ferguson (ILT20)
Predicted Ins: Sam Konstas, George Garton, Muhammad Hasnain
Predicted Outs: Hugh Weibgen, Sherfane Rutherford, Lockie Ferguson
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.
Lockie Ferguson and Sherfane Rutherford’s BBL stints are complete, opening up 2 more spots in the side. But they’ve also added 2 new imports; Pakistani quick Muhammad Hasnain and English left-arm bowling all-rounder George Garton who should come into the side. That may leave them a bit short on batting, but Dan Christian has played at 6 before and could be elevated. He was excellent last game.
There’s one more dilemma, with Nathan McAndrew fit again and pressing for Wes Agar’s spot after a few expensive games. Tom Andrews might be at risk too. Then again, they might just try limit the changes.
1 D.Warner (c)
2 S.Konstas
3 M.Gilkes
4 O.Davies
5 S.Billings (wk)
6 D.Christian
7 C.Green
8 G.Garton
9 T.Andrews
10 W.Agar
11 Muhammad Hasnain
Sydney Sixers v Perth Scorchers
Saturday 11 January 4:45pm AEDT, SCG
Sixers
Doubtful: Jackson Bird (injury)
Unavailable: Daniel Hughes (elbow), James Vince (ILT20), Akeal Hosein (ILT20)
Predicted Ins: Steve Smith, Jafer Chohan
Predicted Outs: James Vince, Akeal Hosein
The Sixers lose two quality players in James Vince and Akeal Hosein, but do welcome back Aussie Test star Steve Smith to ease the pain. Hosein’s absence creates a void for either untried English import Jafer Chohan or young gun Joel Davies to fill. Then again, they could go with Jackson Bird’s power play swing, although we’re unclear on his injury status.
We’re giving Chohan the nod to offer some mystery to their attack and he’ll be important when Todd Murphy leaves during the finals with the Test squad for Sri Lank.
1 S.Smith
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 J.Chohan
11 T.Murphy
Scorchers
Doubtful: Nick Hobson (foot)
Unavailable: Josh Inglis (calf), Mitch Marsh (rested)
Predicted Ins: Matthew Hurst, Andrew Tye
Predicted Outs: Mitch Marsh, Matt Kelly
Mitch Marsh has opted out and will have a rest for the Scorchers’ two upcoming Sydney games. That opens the door for Matthew Hurst to return, while WA talent Sam Fanning could get an opportunity to open too.
Matt Kelly has been left out of the traveling squad with Andrew Tye his obvious replacement. Nick Hobson is in some doubt after not fielding in their last game due to a foot issue, with Hurst potentially someone who could take on his middle-order role.
1 M.Hurst
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
Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat
Saturday 11 January 7:30pm local time/8pm AEDT, Adelaide Oval
Strikers
Doubtful: Matt Short (toe)
Unavailable: Travis Head (rested after Tests), Fabian Allen (hamstring), Thomas Kelly (thumb)
Predicted Ins: Alex Carey, Liam Scott, Jordan Buckingham
Predicted Outs: Jake Weatherald, James Bazley, Cameron Boyce
Wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey is available to play and will slot into their side and take the gloves from Ollie Pope. Carey’s batting role will be dictated by Matt Short’s availability having battled a fractured toe. We’re anticipating Short won’t be right to play. Jake Weatherald hasn’t passed 13 in his past 4 knocks, so likely drops out. If Short is fit, James Bazley could be deemed surplus to requirements too.
Cameron Boyce and James Bazley will both miss this game, having not been named in the 14-player squad as the Strikers look to mix things up. Liam Scott and young fast bowler Jordan Buckingham are the probables to come in for them. There’s a call to be made between adding the all-rounder Scott or the extra bat Weatherald.
1 A.Carey (wk)
2 D.Short
3 C.Lynn
4 O.Pope
5 A.Ross (c)
6 J.Overton
7 L.Scott
8 H.Thornton
9 B.Doggett
10 J.Buckingham
11 L.Pope
Heat
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Usman Khawaja (rested after Tests), Marnus Labuschagne (rested after Tests), Tom Banton (ILT20), Paul Walter (shoulder)
Predicted Ins/Outs: Unchanged
Test duo Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne are not available for this game. Brisbane won their last game against the Sydney Thunder but needed a miracle partnership from Matt Renshaw and Max Bryant, so they could be tempted to change their top order, particularly Jack Wood who failed at the top.
English all-rounder Paul Walter missed last game with soreness and will miss again due to a shoulder issue. With Walter ruled out, the Heat will be pondering whether to stick with Wood or give an opportunity to Daniel Drew. We’re anticipating they’ll back Wood for now.
1 J.Wood
2 C.Munro (c)
3 N.McSweeney
4 M.Renshaw
5 M.Bryant
6 T.Alsop (wk)
7 M.Neser
8 X.Bartlett
9 S.Johnson
10 M.Swepson
11 M.Kuhnemann
Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars
Sunday 12 January 7:15pm AEDT, Marvel Stadium
Renegades
Doubtful: Josh Brown (wrist)
Unavailable: Hassan Khan (overseas quota), Nathan Lyon (rested after Tests), Gurinder Sandhu (calf), Jonathan Wells (hamstring), Laurie Evans (ILT20)
Predicted Ins: Josh Brown, Tawanda Muyeye, Harry Dixon, Fergus O’Neill
Predicted Outs: Marcus Harris, Laurie Evans, Jonathan Wells, Gurinder Sandhu
The Gades had a famous win in Perth, so they won’t want to tinker much but will be forced into 2 changes to their middle-order, with Laurie Evans flying out for the ILT20 and Jono Wells pinging a hammy against the Scorchers.
Josh Brown is likely in the mix to return from a wrist injury, which probably sees Marcus Harris drop out. That will impact their top 5, with Jake Fraser-McGurk potentially sliding to 4. They may also want to try emerging young gun Harry Dixon who likely needs to be in their top 3.
They’ve signed Zimbabwe-born England-based batsman Tawanda Muyeye, who they’ve labelled as an all-rounder. He’s primarily played as a top-order bat in England but could come into their middle order. Gurinder Sandhu is out with a sore calf, opening the door for Fergus O’Neill or potentially spinner Callum Stow.
1 J.Brown
2 H.Dixon
3 J.Fraser-McGurk
4 T.Seifert (wk)
5 J.Bethell
6 T.Muyeye
7 W.Sutherland (c)
8 T.Rogers
9 F.O’Neill
10 K.Richardson
11 A.Zampa
Stars
Doubtful: Marcus Stoinis (hamstring)
Unavailable: Scott Boland (rested after Tests), Dan Lawrence (ILT20), Adam Milne (stint over), Joe Clarke (stint over), Tom Curran (calf), Hamish McKenzie (rib)
Predicted Ins: Tom Rogers
Predicted Outs: Dan Lawrence
Dan Lawrence is headed for the ILT20 so he’ll make way, enabling Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell to move up a spot in the batting order. But keep an eye on Stoinis’ fitness after spending time off the field last game, albeit briefly, with hamstring tightness. Lawrence’s exit may also enable overs for Maxwell, although Beau Webster filled that role last game.
This game is likely too soon for Tom Curran after his grade 1 calf strain, so they’ve got a dilemma on how to replace Lawrence, with possible batting options like Tom Rogers or an all-rounder like Jon Merlo or Campbell Kellaway. Rogers gets our nod, given he has flexibility in the order. This will be Ben Duckett’s final game for the Stars before England duty.
1 B.Duckett
2 S.Harper (wk)
3 B.Webster
4 M.Stoinis (c)
5 G.Maxwell
6 H.Cartwright
7 T.Rogers
8 Usama Mir
9 J.Paris
10 M.Steketee
11 P.Siddle
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