Round 8 starts on Monday with the Hobart Hurricanes on the double and the Melbourne Stars having a bye. We’ve taken a look at all the predicted Round 8 sides, listing unavailability.
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Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers
Monday 13 January 7:30pm AEDT, Engie Stadium
Thunder
Doubtful: Tanveer Sangha (side)
Unavailable: Nic Maddinson (finger), Jason Sangha (bicep), Will Salzmann (injury), Daniel Sams (concussion), Cameron Bancroft (concussion/nose/shoulder), Sherfane Rutherford (ILT20), Lockie Ferguson (ILT20)
Predicted Ins: Hugh Weibgen, Nathan McAndrew, Tanveer Sangha
Predicted Outs: Dan Christian, Wes Agar, Tom Andrews
The Thunder arguably lacked batting depth last game, so will look to bolster their options with Hugh Weibgen. Captain David Warner admitted it was a line call between Weibgen and Dan Christian last game, so that’s a likely change, given Christian only bowled 1 over last game.
Wes Agar has lost his spot in the side after a few expensive games, with Nathan McAndrew waiting in the wings. Tanveer Sangha has been named int he 14-player squad after a side injury and if he’s fit to play, he’ll come and likely replace spinner Tom Andrews despite his solid efforts.
1 D.Warner (c)
2 S.Konstas
3 M.Gilkes
4 O.Davies
5 S.Billings (wk)
6 H.Weibgen
7 C.Green
8 G.Garton
9 M.McAndrew
10 T.Sangha
11 Muhammad Hasnain
Scorchers
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Josh Inglis (calf), Mitch Marsh (rested), Jhye Richardson (shoulder)
Predicted Ins: Mahli Beardman, Lance Morris
Predicted Outs: Jhye Richardson, Matthew Spoors
Jhye Richardson is out for the rest of the season due to shoulder surgery. Lance Morris is an easy replacement for him, having been “managed” last game.
Conditions at the Sydney Showgrounds will dictate whether Perth go with Matthew Spoors as a second spinner or blood exciting Australia U19s quick Mahli Beardman. Opener Sam Fanning did more than enough to hold his spot ahead of Matthew Hurst.
1 S.Fanning
2 F.Allen (wk)
3 A.Hardie
4 C.Connolly
5 A.Turner (c)
6 N.Hobson
7 A.Agar
8 A.Tye
9 J.Behrendorff
10 M.Beardman
11 L.Morris
Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Renegades
Tuesday 14 January 7:30pm AEDT, Ninja Stadium
Hurricanes
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Iain Carlisle (back), Mac Wright (ACL), Shai Hope (ILT20), Waqar Salamkheil (ILT20), Ben McDermott (hamstring)
Predicted Ins: Caleb Jewell
Predicted Outs: Ben McDermott
Ben McDermott will miss this game after some hamstring awareness last game, with Caleb Jewell or Jake Doran his likely replacement if he’s out. Jewell has played already this season so seems more likely but has been out of form.
1 M.Wade (wk)
2 M.Owen
3 C.Jewell
4 C.Wakim
5 N.Chaudhary
6 T.David
7 C.Jordan
8 N.Ellis (c)
9 P.Hatzoglou
10 R.Meredith
11 B.Stanlake
Renegades
Doubtful: Gurinder Sandhu (calf), Kane Richardson (hamstring)
Unavailable: Hassan Khan (overseas quota), Nathan Lyon (rested after Tests), Jonathan Wells (hamstring), Laurie Evans (ILT20)
Predicted Ins: Tawanda Muyeye, Sam Elliott
Predicted Outs: Marcus Harris, Kane Richardson
The Gades copped a touch-up from the Stars, so may make changes. Marcus Harris’ opening role seems precarious and they may want to try import Tawanda Muyeye at the top. Kane Richardson seemed to hurt himself bowling in the 20th over and has bowled ruled out with soreness. Gurinder Sandhu will be in the mix to return from a sore calf but they could blood Sam Elliott to expose him after a good One-Day Cup season with the Vics.
1 J.Brown
2 T.Muyeye
3 J.Fraser-McGurk
4 J.Bethell
5 T.Seifert (wk)
6 W.Sutherland (c)
7 H.Dixon
8 T.Rogers
9 F.O’Neill
10 S.Elliott
11 A.Zampa
Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers
Wednesday 15 January 7pm local time/7:30pm AEDT, Adelaide Oval
Strikers
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Travis Head (rested after Tests), Fabian Allen (hamstring), Thomas Kelly (thumb), Chris Lynn (hamstring), Jake Weatherald (shoulder)
Predicted Ins: Harry Manenti
Predicted Outs: Chris Lynn
Adelaide enjoyed a good win last game, aided by 251 with the bat, while their bowlers got the job done, bowling out Brisbane for 195, so it’s hard to expect changes. Veteran bat Chris Lynn has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, so Jake Weatherald looked the easy inclusion for him after recovering from illness but he’s been ruled out with a shoulder issue.
As a result, they’ll likely elevate D’Arcy Short up the order, and weigh up one of 3 all-rounders Harry Manenti, Liam Scott or James Bazley.
Henry Thornton likely misses out again with newcomers Liam Haskett and Jordan Buckingham doing enough last game. D’Arcy Short’s 4fa will keep out Cameron Boyce with no apparent need for a second specialist spinner alongside Lloyd Pope.
1 M.Short (c)
2 A.Carey (wk)
3 D.Short
4 O.Pope
5 A.Ross
6 J.Overton
7 H.Manenti
8 B.Doggett
9 L.Haskett
10 J.Buckingham
11 L.Pope
Sixers
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Daniel Hughes (elbow), James Vince (ILT20), Akeal Hosein (ILT20), Jackson Bird (injury)
Predicted Ins: Lachlan Shaw
Predicted Outs: Kurtis Patterson
Kurtis Patterson didn’t make their 14-man squad, so he’ll drop out with Lachlan Shaw his likely replacement, which may see Jack Edwards shuffled up to 3.
It’s hard to see any further need for changes. Joel Davies and English spinner Jafer Chohan is probably the only point for debate as they may experiment given they’ve locked in a finals berth.
1 S.Smith
2 J.Philippe (wk)
3 J.Edwards
4 M.Henriques (c)
5 J.Silk
6 L.Shaw
7 H.Kerr
8 J.Davies
9 B.Dwarshuis
10 S.Abbott
11 T.Murphy
Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes
Thursday 16 January 6:30pm local time/7:30pm AEDT, Gabba
Heat
Doubtful: Paul Walter (shoulder)
Unavailable: Tom Banton (ILT20), Colin Munro (finger)
Predicted Ins: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne
Predicted Outs: Jack Wood, Colin Munro
Test duo Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne will return for a one-off appearance, squeezing out Jack Wood. Depending on the severity of Colin Munro’s finger injury, he’ll drop out in a like-for-like switch. His form hasn’t been great anyway.
Brisbane have a decision to make with their opening spots if Munro is out, but don’t expect Michael Neser to do that role again, despite a few lusty blows, as it was a makeshift solution for a mid-game injury chasing a massive total as a pinch-hitter.
English all-rounder Paul Walter is available for selection but may miss out, with no apparent spot available to him.
1 U.Khawaja (c)
2 M.Labuschagne
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
Hurricanes
Doubtful: Chris Jordan (back)
Unavailable: Iain Carlisle (back), Mac Wright (ACL), Shai Hope (ILT20), Waqar Salamkheil (ILT20), Billy Stanlake (shoulder), Ben McDermott (hamstring)
Predicted Ins: Chris Jordan, Marcus Bean, Tim Ward
Predicted Outs: Billy Stanlake, Jake Doran, Caleb Jewell
There’s a bit going on for the doubts, with Billy Stanlake ruled out and Ben McDermott to miss again. Chris Jordan has flown to Brisbane and could return after experiencing back spasms in the warm-up last game. That’ll depend on how he pulls up after the flight, but we’re tipping he’ll play.
The Canes could replace Stanlake simply with Jordan, but they actually went a bowler short last game without the Englishman, so there’s another bowling spot available, either for another quick or a spinner, like Paddy Dooley. Marcus Bean is a ready-made like-for-like for Stanlake, standing 200cm tall and we’re leaning that way.
Caleb Jewell and Jake Doran hasn’t set the world on fire and one could make way as they experiment ahead of finals, with local replacement Tim Ward worth a shot as an opener. That could mean Matthew Wade remains in the middle order.
1 M.Owen
2 T.Ward
3 C.Wakim
4 N.Chaudhary
5 T.David
6 M.Wade (wk)
7 C.Jordan
8 N.Ellis (c)
9 P.Hatzoglou
10 R.Meredith
11 M.Bean
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