BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 11: Jack Wildermuth of the Heat appeals to the umpire during the Big Bash League match between the Brisbane Heat and the Perth Scorchers at The Gabba on January 11, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Jack Wildermuth looms large as a potential opening batsman for the Brisbane Heat after getting the role in Tuesday’s warm-up game against the QC Academy at Peter Burge Oval.
With Usman Khawaja unavailable on Test duty, the Heat have a vacancy in the opening slot alongside Colin Munro.
Bargain-priced Heat all-rounder Wildermuth got an audition on Tuesday, hitting a quickfire 24 from 13 balls before being dismissed caught.
Max Bryant was the best of the Heat batters, posting 52 from 24 balls at no.5, while Lachlan Hearne (10 from 13) and Hugh Weibgen (14 from 10) failed to press their claims.
Wildermuth actually came out to bat a second time down the order at no.8, scoring 21 from 18 before being run out.
The Heat, missing Matt Renshaw and Nathan McSweeney, posted 9-188 which the QC Academy chased down, aided by the Heat’s attack being decimated with Spencer Johnson (injury), Matt Kuhnemann (side), Callum Vidler (stress fracture) and Michael Neser (Test squad) unavailable and Shaheen Afridi sitting the game out.
Youngster Oli Patterson opened the bowling and took 2-50 from 4 overs, while Thomas Balkin (0-25 from 4) and Jem Ryan (0-32 from 3) pushed their claims for a local replacement player spot.
Wildermuth bowled 3.1 overs, finishing with relatively tidy figures of 1-26. Weibgen only bowled 1 over, going 0-8.
Former Heat batsman Jack Wood smashed an impressive 94 from 42 for QC Academy, potentially shooting him into Heat LRP calculations.
KELLY & PARIS GOOD TO GO
Scorchers GM of Cricket Kade Harvey has revealed the injury that kept Matt Kelly out of WA’s last Sheffield Shield game.
Harvey told 91.3 Sport FM: “He injured his finger. He was unable to play. He was certainly pretty cooked from the first 4 games. he had an injury heading into that last Shield game that he wasn’t available.”
Harvey was bullish about recruit Joel Paris’ impact this season, explaining his role. He said: “We brought Joel in for multiple reasons. We like the left-hander. He brings a lot to our group off field. Whether he plays 2 games, 6 games, 10 games, I’ll leave that to the medical team, but he’s certainly fit to play.
“I’m sure he’ll play an important role throughout the tournament depending on who we’re playing, when we’re playing.”
THUNDER CHASING OVERSEAS ALL-ROUNDER
The Sydney Thunder aren’t done just yet with overseas players with GM Trent Copeland revealing he’s weighing up an international all-rounder following Ravi Ashwin’s exit. Reece Topley has been signed as a replacement but Copeland is still making enquiries.
Copeland told SEN: “He was a fourth overseas player, cherry on top type of thing. We were going to manage 3 overseas playing out of 4 and keep them on edge to perform. So we don’t need to replace him but I’m always on the hunt.
“I’m looking at a few options at the moment to see if there’s another all-rounder we might be able to bring in. all those guys are here in Sydney and training already.”
Copeland was also full of praise for new signing Nic Maddinson offering an insight into his chances of playing. He said: “I watched his net session about three weeks ago. I’m not sure he’s ever hit the ball better.
“This is that type of freedom, he’s not chasing Test cricket, this is going to be fun for him. He’s playing with freedom and if he gets into our team, he’s playing well because our top order is stacked.”
SEIFERT ‘READY TO GO’ AFTER FRACTURE
Melbourne Renegades wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert has declared he’s ready to play despite picking up a right index finger injury last month that ruled him out of New Zealand’s T20I series against the West Indies.
“I had my first proper net today,” Seifert said on Tuesday. “The actual break is fine, it’s just getting the confidence of being back and facing a ball … getting the strength back in the hand.
“It’s been in a splint the last 4 weeks. It’s good to be back into it and I’ll be available for the first game. Ready to go.”
PEAKE TO MISS BACK-HALF
Young Melbourne Renegades batsman Ollie Peake will miss the back-half of BBL|15 after being named in Australia’s squad for the U19 World Cup starting January 15.
It’s anticipated Peake would exit the BBL one week prior to the tournament start date. He has been slated to play for the Gades in Round 1, coming in during the middle order.
