Round 9 starts on Friday to wrap up the SuperCoach BBL with every club on a single game making it a tough round to navigate. We’ve taken a look at all the predicted Round 9 sides, listing unavailability.
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Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder
Friday 17 January 7:15pm AEDT, SCG
Sixers
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Daniel Hughes (elbow), James Vince (ILT20), Akeal Hosein (ILT20), Jackson Bird (injury)
Predicted Ins/Outs: Unchanged
It’s hard to see any changes after the Sixers’ strong run chase in Adelaide. English spinner Jafer Chohan went wicketless, so Joel Davies could be preferred, but they’ll likely persist with the import given he’ll be important in finals with Todd Murphy set to depart on Test duty.
1 S.Smith
2 J.Philippe (wk)
3 J.Edwards
4 M.Henriques (c)
5 J.Silk
6 L.Shaw
7 B.Dwarshuis
8 H.Kerr
9 S.Abbott
10 J.Chohan
11 T.Murphy
Thunder
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Nic Maddinson (finger), Jason Sangha (bicep), Will Salzmann (injury), Daniel Sams (side strain), Cameron Bancroft (concussion/nose/shoulder), Sherfane Rutherford (ILT20), Lockie Ferguson (ILT20)
Predicted Ins/Outs: Unchanged
The Thunder struggled with the bat last game against Perth but their bowlers got the job done. That makes Hugh Weibgen slightly vulnerable, with Ollie Davies available.
They did pick 3 spinners at Engie Stadium, so one could drop out, but it’s hard to see them leaving out any of Chris Green, Tom Andrews and Tanveer Sangha after last game, so we’re not anticipating Dan Christian will return. Note George Garton wasn’t required with the ball last game.
1 D.Warner (c)
2 S.Konstas
3 M.Gilkes
4 S.Billings (wk)
5 H.Weibgen
6 G.Garton
7 C.Green
8 N.McAndrew
9 T.Andrews
10 T.Sangha
11 Muhammad Hasnain
Melbourne Renegades v Brisbane Heat
Saturday 18 January 5pm AEDT, Marvel Stadium
Renegades
Doubtful: Kane Richardson (hamstring)
Unavailable: Hassan Khan (overseas quota), Nathan Lyon (rested after Tests), Jonathan Wells (hamstring), Laurie Evans (ILT20), Jacob Bethell (England duty), Gurinder Sandhu (calf)
Predicted Ins: Tawanda Muyeye, Kane Richardson
Predicted Outs: Jacob Bethell, Callum Stow
The Renegades will be without explosive English all-rounder Jacob Bethell, whose headed off on national duty. Tawanda Muyeye is a chance to replace him in a middle-order role.
The Gades may be last but they’re still live in the finals race, so they’ll field a decent side, rather than experiment with kids. Kane Richardson is back in the mix and could come in for spinner Callum Stow, who impressed last game, but conditions at Marvel may call for another paceman.
1 J.Brown
2 M.Harris
3 J.Fraser-McGurk
4 T.Seifert (wk)
5 T.Muyeye
6 W.Sutherland (c)
7 H.Dixon
8 T.Rogers
9 F.O’Neill
10 K.Richardson
11 A.Zampa
Heat
Doubtful: Colin Munro (finger)
Unavailable: Tom Banton (ILT20), Usman Khawaja (Test squad), Marnus Labuschagne (Test squad), Matt Kuhnemann (thumb)
Predicted Ins: Paul Walter, Colin Munro, Jack Wood
Predicted Outs: Matt Kuhnemann (inj), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne
This game is critical for both sides in the finals race, so the Heat will field a strong line-up but have a few issues to manage, namely the exits of Test duo Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne and the absence of spinner Matt Kuhnemann who appeared to fracture his thumb late last game.
Colin Munro is also in the mix to return from a finger injury and given the finals situation with Khawaja and Labuschagne, we’re predicting he’ll suit up. Jack Wood could return to bolster their top-order batting options.
English all-rounder Paul Walter could also return after missing 3 games with a mix of selection and a niggling shoulder issue. His medium-pace bowling may be suited to Marvel over Kuhnemann’s spin anyway.
1 C.Munro (c)
2 J.Wood
3 N.McSweeney
4 M.Renshaw
5 M.Bryant
6 T.Alsop (wk)
7 P.Walter
8 M.Neser
9 X.Bartlett
10 S.Johnson
11 M.Swepson
Perth Scorchers v Adelaide Strikers
Saturday 18 January 5:15pm WST/8:15pm AEDT, Optus Stadium
Scorchers
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Josh Inglis (calf), Jhye Richardson (shoulder), Mitch Marsh (personal)
Predicted Ins: Andrew Tye
Predicted Outs: Matthew Spoors
Remarkably, Perth are still live despite their run of losses. They’ve already turned to youth to an extent with Sam Fanning and Mahli Beardman getting recent games, but they’ll be ready to swoop on a finals spot if available. Mitch Marsh will miss again, listed as “rested”.
Andrew Tye or Matt Kelly could return for Beardman or spinner Matthew Spoors at Optus Stadium, with Jason Behrendorff struggling in the 20th over role against the Thunder.
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 L.Morris
11 M.Beardman
Strikers
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Travis Head (rested after Tests), Fabian Allen (hamstring), Thomas Kelly (thumb), Jamie Overton (England duty), Chris Lynn (hamstring), Jake Weatherald (back)
Predicted Ins: Liam Scott
Predicted Outs: Jamie Overton
The main thing is the extent of injuries to Chris Lynn and Jake Weatherald which will impact their top-order mix. Both were on Friday confirmed out.
Jamie Overton will definitely miss due to England duty, opening the door for either Liam Scott or James Bazley in the all-rounder slot. Harry Manenti was likely solid enough to hod his spot, especially with Overton out.
1 M.Short (c)
2 D.Short
3 A.Carey (wk)
4 O.Pope
5 A.Ross
6 H.Manenti
7 L.Scott
8 H.Thornton
9 B.Doggett
10 J.Buckingham
11 L.Pope
Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes
Sunday 19 January 7:15pm AEDT, MCG
Stars
Doubtful: Tom Curran (calf)
Unavailable: Scott Boland (rested after Tests), Dan Lawrence (ILT20), Adam Milne (stint over), Joe Clarke (stint over), Ben Duckett (England duty), Hamish McKenzie (rib)
Predicted Ins: Tom Curran, Blake Macdonald
Predicted Outs: Ben Duckett, Tom Rogers
Whatever happens prior to this game, the Stars will know that if they win, they’re in. But they won’t be helped by the absence of BBL|14 sensation Ben Duckett who is out on England white-ball duty. Who replaces him at the top of the order is the big question, particularly from a SuperCoach point of view with Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis among the options.
Tom Rogers may simply get the gig, as they slide the order up, especially if Tom Curran is fit to return and resume his all-rounder role at 7. After a nice break, it’s unlikely the in-form Stars will change their attack. But there’s another option, with young top-order batsman Blake Macdonald potentially opening and Rogers dropping out, given his lack of recent runs. It’d be a gamble for such a big game.
Usama Mir is fully available to play, having had his PCB no-objection clearance extended through until January 27.
1 B.Macdonald
2 S.Harper (wk)
3 B.Webster
4 M.Stoinis (c)
5 G.Maxwell
6 H.Cartwright
7 T.Curran
8 Usama Mir
9 J.Paris
10 M.Steketee
11 P.Siddle
Hurricanes
Doubtful: Chris Jordan (back), Ben McDermott (hamstring)
Unavailable: Iain Carlisle (back), Mac Wright (ACL), Shai Hope (ILT20), Waqar Salamkheil (ILT20), Billy Stanlake (shoulder)
Predicted Ins: Chris Jordan
Predicted Outs: Jake Doran
The Hurricanes have top spot locked in, so there’s nothing to play for, except to maintain form and momentum, meaning there is an apparent threat of resting players.
You’d think it’s unlikely they’ll rush back Ben McDermott from a hamstring injury, but he seems bullish albeit he needs to pass a few more tests. If he is declared available, Charlie Wakim likely drops out and possibly Matthew Wade goes back up the order.
Chris Jordan may be given more time to recover after back spasms kept him out of the past 2 games. If he is fit, Jake Doran probably makes way from that middle-order role. Doran has been named in their 14-man squad, so we know he won’t play. If Jordan does play, it’s less likely Nikhil Chaudhary and Mitch Owen get multiple overs, given Jordan adds a 5th bowler.
Just keep an eye out for an unexpected rest, with someone like injury-prone quick Riley Meredith or veteran Matthew Wade potentially given a breather, especially with Cameron Gannon added to the squad as a local replacement player. The Canes are pretty threadbare with their squad, adding no imports after Shai Hope and Waqar Salamkheil left for the ILT20, so any change won’t be widespread. One option is to give spinner Paddy Dooley a game at the MCG.
1 M.Owen
2 C.Jewell
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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